403,000 in Northeast Syria Face Water Shortages

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Sunday that over 403,000 people in the northeastern Syrian cities of Manbij and Kobani remain without access to clean water.

This dire situation has persisted for over a month, exacerbated by the inoperative Tishrin Dam and inadequate functioning water stations in eastern Deir ez-Zor.

The OCHA highlighted that the security situation in Syria remains volatile, with ongoing hostilities in Idlib and disruptions around the Tishrin Dam.

Meanwhile, rural areas in eastern Deir ez-Zor are grappling with severe drinking water shortages, adding to the region's mounting humanitarian challenges.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric revealed that Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy to Syria, held a constructive meeting with Syrian interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani during discussions in Riyadh.

These talks emphasized the importance of a Syrian-led inclusive political transition supported by the international community to stabilize the nation and rebuild its future.

Separately, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk arrived in Damascus on Sunday for his first official visit to Syria.

Türk is set to visit Lebanon and Syria from January 14 to 16, meeting officials, civil society representatives, and international organizations to address pressing human rights and humanitarian issues.