Syria: Drop in Euphrates Water levels and water Contamination Stir a Humanitarian Catastrophe in Eastern Syria

In north and east Syria, an imminent catastrophe is looming following a cutoff in Euphrates water flow, which is the primary source of livelihood for residents who mostly work in agriculture. Manbij residents illustrated that the Euphrates water level has dropped by 5 meters, reducing the water supply by 75%. Accordingly, families were coerced to drink directly from the river water, not to mention that they no longer irrigate their crops. This was all exacerbated by power plants’ shutdown as they ceased to operate after the acute drop in water levels. Furthermore, the once a tourist destination for many visitors- is now with a low level of polluted water