The European Kurdistan Ecological Movement (TEV-EKO) has issued an urgent plea for global action to halt Turkey’s ongoing attacks on the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam and surrounding areas in the Euphrates Basin. Labeling these assaults as “crimes against humanity,” the movement warned of irreparable damage to the ecosystem and the livelihoods of millions in northeast Syria.
TEV-EKO: Tishreen Dam at the heart of Turkey’s environmental war
In its statement, TEV-EKO highlighted the Tishreen dam’s pivotal role as a lifeline for water and electricity. With a capacity of 1.9 billion cubic metres, its destruction would devastate the Euphrates valley, one of Syria’s most ecologically diverse regions. “The destruction of this vital resource is not only an ecological disaster but a targeted strategy to destabilise the region,” the statement emphasised.
HYPERLINK ON WIRE
Ercan Ayboğa: Ecological justice in the face of war
In a powerful video statement, Ercan Ayboğa, board member of TEV-EKO and a leading voice in ecological advocacy, detailed Turkey’s systemic attacks on infrastructure and resources for Medya News:
“The Turkish state systematically targets dams, water stations, and agricultural fields. Deliberate actions such as setting wheat fields ablaze during irrigation seasons and cutting Euphrates River water flow are aimed at forcing displacement and destabilisation. These are clear war crimes.”
Ayboğa also addressed the potential collapse of the Tabqa Dam downstream, warning of catastrophic flooding that could reach Iraq, destroying communities and ecosystems. He urged the international community:
“The continuation of these attacks risks irreversible destruction. This is not just an ecological issue; it’s about protecting democratic values and ensuring life itself in the Middle East.”
A broader ecological and humanitarian crisis
TEV-EKO’s statement placed Turkey’s aggression in the broader context of its long-standing tactics, including destroying grain silos, disrupting water supplies, and attacking electricity grids. Such actions have left communities in northeast Syria vulnerable to drought, famine, and displacement. The group also pointed to the international legal framework, particularly the UN’s 2022 resolution on “Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts” (PERAC), calling for immediate enforcement.
The movement warned of cascading impacts, including mass displacement, a new refugee wave into Europe, and security risks arising from the destabilisation of camps holding ISIS detainees.
A call for solidarity and action
TEV-EKO concluded its appeal by urging global ecological movements, governments, and civil society to stand against Turkey’s ecological aggression:
“The Autonomous Region of North and East Syria represents a democratic, ecological, and women-liberation-focused model for the Middle East. Protecting it is not just our duty but a necessity for future generations.”
