ARMANAZ, Syria — Years of war in Syria have greatly impeded access to basic services, including access to potable water, with only 50% of the water and sanitation systems functioning properly across Syria, leading to damaged crops, economic instability and a deadly cholera outbreak. While the country launched a cholera inoculation campaign Dec. 4, the end of a water supply program in late October threatens further devastation.
The organization GOAL, dedicated to respond to the needs of the affected communities in northwest Syria by providing food and non-food assistance to the population including water and sanitation, said in a statement that its water program ended its operations on Oct. 31. That cuts support for stations in 42 towns and villages has stopped, including Armanaz, Qorqania, Abu Talha and others. The statement did not address the reasons why support has stopped.
