Damascus, Syria – Syrian Deputy Energy Minister Osama Abu Zaid accused Turkey today of failing to release Syria and Iraq’s agreed share of the Euphrates River in recent years, worsening water shortages across the region.
In an interview with Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV, Abu Zaid said, “The Turkish side has not complied during years of drought with releasing Syria and Iraq’s share of the Euphrates River.” He noted that under the 1987 tripartite agreement, the river’s flow is set at 500 cubic meters per second, divided with 58% allocated to Iraq and 42% to Syria.
The Euphrates has witnessed a significant drop in water levels in both Syria and Iraq in recent years, exacerbated by drought and Turkey’s retention of large portions of the flow. The shortage has impacted drinking water supplies, agriculture, and Iraq’s marshlands, leading to growing economic and environmental pressures.
Earlier this month, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir discussed water and energy cooperation with Iraq’s acting ambassador to Damascus, Yassin al-Hujaymi. Talks focused on daily water releases and efforts to manage scarcity amid climate change. On August 12, al-Bashir also visited Baghdad to meet Iraqi Oil Minister officials, where the two sides discussed reviving the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline and addressing water challenges.
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In a related context, Abu Zaid revealed yesterday that more than 60% of Syria’s water infrastructure has been damaged during the conflict, leaving entire systems out of service in several towns and villages. Main transmission and distribution networks have also suffered severe damage, restricting access to clean drinking water.
He added in a statement to Al-Ikhbariya TV, that per capita water availability in Syria has dropped to just 600 cubic meters annually, well below the global average of 1,000 cubic meters. To address the crisis, the Energy Ministry has launched a plan to rehabilitate and modernize dams to meet future demand. Strategic projects also include desalination of seawater, despite its high costs.
Abu Zaid highlighted joint Syrian-Jordanian efforts to develop the Yarmouk River basin in Daraa province to increase water inflows. He said current efforts focus on two tracks: urgent repairs of damaged pumping stations and pipelines, and medium-term solutions such as installing solar-powered systems to operate water facilities.
