Satellite Imagery Shows Hasankeyf Dam Reservoir Fills With Water

The Hasankeyf Coordination has shared satellite imagery of the Ilısu Dam reservoir and said that millions of living beings, including endemic species, are in danger.

İstanbul

Satellite Imagery Shows Hasankeyf Dam Reservoir Fills With Water

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The Hasankeyf Coordination has released a statement on the latest developments about the Ilısu Dam, which will leave the ancient city submerged into the water if it operates in full capacity.

The filling of the dam reservoir began on an unspecified date between July 20 and July 22 and officials told reporters, off the record, that the filling began for testing purposes, said the statement.

CLICK - Beginning of the end for Hasankeyf: Tests for Filling Dam Reservoir Start

The coordination shared satellite imagery of the area from July 19, 24 and 29, and said the images indicate that the filling is not for test purposes but permanent.

July 19

July 24

July 29

"The dam reservoir is expanding into new areas every day after the floodgates were closed without a statement in one of the days between July 20 and July 22. The examination of the satellite imagery from July 19, 24 and 29 refutes off the record statements from official authorities," the statement said.

"It is understood that the purpose is to quietly make the public and the society to face a fait-accompli," it added.

The statement further said that people and living beings in the area will be affected from the reservoir's filling:

"Because the dam reservoir enlarges every day, the people live here are also concerned. They don't know when will the water reach to areas of living and agriculture.

"The dam reservoir is causing hundreds of living beings to die and drown into the water every day. Because there is not a report of Environmental Effect Evaluation and an examination from independent academics and experts along the Tigris Valley, there is no information or data on which species are affected by the forming pond."

The coordination also underscored that the filling of the reservoir violates 1997 UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses.

Saying "It is not too late for Hasankeyf," the coordination called on artists, intellectuals, "defenders of life", political parties and women's and youth organizations to fight for Hasankeyf and the Tigris Valley.

About the Hasankeyf dam project

The Ilısu Dam (Photo: AA)

The construction of the Ilısu Dam was included in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), a state-sponsored regional development project that has been continuing for decades, in 1982.
After the project was included in the government's investment program in 1997, protests were staged both in Turkey and in European countries where the companies who financially support the project based in. as a result, the project was stopped in 2002.

When the Ilısu project came to the fore in 2005, the construction of the dam was tried to be prevented with a stronger campaign. As a result of this, the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive emerged.

Hasankeyf and the Tigris Valley are still there as a result of the struggle of tens of civil society organizations who oppose the construction of the dam. But the process has become more difficult lately.

In 2017, seven monuments were moved from Hasankeyf. Two monuments, one of them is the famous Tigris Bridge, were covered with rocks under the guise of 'restoration'.

More than 200 caves that were dug in Neolithic Era pioneers and large parts of the valley next to the castle were filled with excavation waste.

According to statements by authorities, dam gates will be closed and the dam will begin to fill with water. If the gates are closed, Hasankeyf will be totally submerged into water within four to eight months.

Source: Hasankeyf Initiative

(AÖ/VK)