DUHOK, Kurdistan Region — Ongoing Turkish airstrikes in the border areas of the Amedi district, particularly in Sargale village, have prevented farmers from watering their fields and vineyards for 25 days. This has deeply affected local agriculture and threatened the livelihoods of farmers.
The bombardments have destroyed water irrigation systems in Guharze, leaving cultivated fields vulnerable to destruction due to severe water shortages.
Ahmed Guharze, a local farmer and chieftain of Guharze village, has more than 40 dunams of land, cultivated with a variety of regularly watered vegetables such as sesame and eggplants, as well as fruit trees. However, they have been without water for the past 25 days due to the destruction of the village’s irrigation infrastructure.
Ahmed fears that if the water shortages persist, all his farming fields, especially the three dunams of sesame and eggplants, could dry up and be ruined.
Ahmed Guharze, farmer and chieftain of Guharze village, speaking to Zoom News on July 14, 2024.
“It’s been 25 days since we last watered our vegetables. If this continues, all my three dunams of sesame and eggplants will dry up and be ruined,” Ahmad said.
Maryam Sargale, another villager from Sargale, lamented the severe damage inflicted on her community by recent Turkish airstrikes and shelling.
Maryam says the bombings have devastated their vineyards and pastures, which are crucial for the village’s agriculture and livelihood. She also reports that their homes have been damaged as a result of the airstrikes, causing significant material loss for the residents.
Maryam Sargale, resident of Sargale village, speaking to Zoom News on July 14, 2024.
Border areas and villages in Duhok’s Amedi district have endured uninterrupted Turkish airstrikes and bombardments for over a month, resulting in severe devastation of local agriculture. Thousands of vineyards and pastures have been destroyed, causing immense hardship for residents who depend on these lands for their livelihoods.
Reporting by Ali Dewali
