ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkey’s recent bombardment in the vicinity of several villages in Duhok province has damaged the water pipes of two villages causing the residents to go without water for days. The lack of security in the area has delayed repair work, according to locals and the mayor. About 60 families in Grke and the Christian-populated Dashish villages have been struggling to find drinking water after the Turkish army bombarded the area on Tuesday. Some have bought water and relied on a nearby water channel for their livestock. Sarbast Sabri, mayor of Kani Masi subdistrict, told Rudaw English on Friday that, “The area is contaminated with mines, preventing us from sending repair teams.” The villagers have risked their lives by repairing the pipes as the area is regularly bombarded by Turkey on the grounds that fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party are present there. Sabri also said a permanent solution to the water issue is not possible now but, “When the security of the area improves, we will bury the pipes in the ground.” This is the third time the pipes have been damaged in 20 days, according to the mayor. The source of the water is in Adne valley. Yousef Isaaq is from Dashish village. He told Rudaw he has been transporting water via his tractor from a water channel for his livestock. “I have come here to take water for our livestock,” he told Rudaw, adding the water is not clear. “I have to go to Miska village for clean water.” A villager from Grke said they have been warned by health authorities not to drink water from the channel as it is not clean. It may take the villagers several days to replace the burnt pipes with new ones provided by the government. Sabri told Rudaw on Wednesday that an estimated 3,000 dunams of land was scorched in a fire during Tuesday’s bombardment of the area. Turkey regularly attacks the Kurdistan Region’s bordering areas on the grounds of targeting the PKK’s alleged positions. The PKK is an armed group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers it a terrorist organization. Additional reporting by Ayub Nasri
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