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العربية
In the western Deir Ezzor countryside, dozens of families in the town of Hawayej Dhiab (Shamiya) have been suffering daily for more than ten years due to the complete interruption of drinking water to their homes, according to DeirEzzor24 Network.
Our reporter said that the suffering increases with the rise in summer temperatures and the increased daily need for water, imposing significant financial and health burdens on residents, in the absence of radical solutions from the relevant authorities.
Abu Fayez, a resident of Hawayej Dhiab, said during an interview with DeirEzzor24 Network that they have been suffering from water shortages for a decade, forcing them to rely on purchasing water from tankers at high prices. The price of a barrel of water has reached approximately 6,500 Syrian pounds, which constitutes a heavy burden for most low-income families.
He explained that approximately 30% of the town’s homes lack access to water at all, while the rest receive it intermittently. He added that the tanker water is neither sterilized nor filtration-free, exposing residents to serious health risks.
Sulaiman al-Hassan, a resident of the town, explained that his home is located about 10 kilometers from the water station, making it nearly impossible to access water, especially during the summer. He noted that pumping is also very weak in the winter and does not meet the minimum daily needs.
Awad al-Hassan, a water station employee and a resident of the town, confirmed that the current station supplies two areas: the town of al-Kharita and the village of Hawaij Dhiab. He emphasized that the station’s technical condition is very good, but its size is small and does not match the significant population increase the area has witnessed in recent years, in addition to the ongoing urban expansion. He explained that the main reason behind the water crisis is the station’s inability to meet the growing needs of the population.
Al-Hassan added that the most appropriate solution lies in expanding the current station or constructing a new one, noting that the town’s residents have expressed their complete willingness to donate a plot of land for the construction of an additional station, should the relevant authorities seriously intend to implement the project. He also emphasized that more than 145 homes in the town of Hawaij Dhiyab alone have been suffering from a complete water outage for more than ten years. He noted that the neighboring town of Al-Kharita is facing the same problem, exacerbating the crisis in the region as a whole.
In light of this reality, the residents of Hawaij Dhiyab and Al-Kharita are demanding urgent action from the relevant authorities to end their ongoing suffering and secure the most basic necessities of life, most notably clean, potable water, which has become an urgent demand that cannot be postponed.
