Syria, the water system on the verge of collapse after the earthquake. International Red Cross: “If action is not taken immediately, the humanitarian disaster will be even more serious

Aleppo’s water system is so old that spare parts are no longer on the market. Subjected first to the pressures of war and then to those of the earthquake, the water system is no longer able to meet the needs of the population. Damage to infrastructure also increases the risk that water may be contaminated. So the Syrians, after having lost homes and basic necessities, are now also facing the emergency of drinking water. The same goes for the sewage system, already heavily damaged in the twelve years of conflict.

The health risk. The possibility of devastating public health consequences as a knock-on effect of the earthquake is unfortunately realistic. In fact, access to clean water is already a daily challenge that afflicts millions of people across Syria. Before 2010, 98 percent of people living in cities and 92 percent of those living in the countryside had safe drinking water available. Today, only 50 percent of the water and sewage systems are functioning adequately in all of Syria. However, from contaminated water, a series of infectious diseases can develop and spread, which would trigger another emergency that the country cannot afford to face.

Community response. People came together, started sharing water, food, clothes. But the extent of the needs in all the areas affected by the earthquake is such that immediate action is needed, bringing more aid and greater assistance, explains Fabrizio Carboni, Director General of the Near and Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who is overseeing earthquake response operations.

The daily difficulties. That February 6, thousands of people were forced to leave their homes and sought temporary refuge in Aleppo, Hama, Lattakia, where living conditions have become particularly difficult. In Aleppo, for example, 850 people share just seven toilets. At another site, a former cement factory, children play ball outdoors near areas contaminated by unexploded ordnance.

Damages in dollars. According to a report by the World Bank’s Global Rapid Assessment, the damage caused by the earthquake in Syria is equivalent to 5.1 billion dollars and affects about ten million Syrians. The Global Rapid Post-Disaster Estimation (GRADE) gives an overview of the direct and indirect damages of the earthquake, without covering the economic impacts and losses of the Syrian economy related to the interruption of production activities, the loss of income for many citizens, the cost for temporary housing and then the cost of demolishing the destroyed houses. All these items, in fact, require more time and a more in-depth evaluation.

The most affected places. The dossier shows that Aleppo was the most damaged city, with 45 percent of destruction. Idlib was second, with 37 percent; Lattakia is third, with 11 percent. The subsequent earthquake on February 20 caused more problems in the border regions of Lattakia, Idlib, Hama and Aleppo and it is likely that the continuous aftershocks are adding even more damage.

The most affected buildings. Direct damage to Syrian-inhabited buildings accounts for almost half of the total, while damage to non-residential buildings such as healthcare facilities, schools, government and private sector buildings account for a third of the total impact. Damage to infrastructure represents 18 percent of the total. This percentage includes transportation, critical energy and water infrastructure, and information and communication technology. These estimates also include the destruction of cultural heritage in Aleppo, Margat and Kobane. However, these are approximate and downward evaluations, because the value of cultural heritage is such that it is difficult to quantify.