JINHA

ŞIRNEX - After three people died recently swimming in the Tigris River in Turkey's town of Cizre, many say the sand quarries along the river are to blame.

According to environmental organizations, there are around 500 sand quarries along the length of the Tigris River. In the Kurdish city of Cizre, Turkey, pollution from largely unlicensed sand quarries has combined with water level changes created by dams upriver to make the Tigris dangerous for swimmers.

"Because of the environmental devastation from the sand quarries here, the river bottom has become marshy. Even those who know how to swim, including those jumping in to save those being carried away, get pulled under the water and can't swim," explained Leyla İmret, the co-mayor of Cizre.

Ten have drowned in the river since Leyla took office. The Cizre Environmental Protection and Tree-Planting Association has started a campaign asking citizens not to swim in the river, but according to Leyla, it isn't enough.

"We didn't see drowning as often in the past. These sand quarries are responsible for the increase," said Leyla. The contracts for two of the four sand quarries in Cizre have expired, but they continue operating regardless. Leyla said she is prepared for popular demonstrations and any other measures necessary to stop the sand quarries.

Seven-year-old Nihat swims in the Tigris every day to escape the summer heat. "We don't want the water like this; this water is really dirty," said Nihat. "We want clean water that we won't drown in."

11-year-old Ahmet says he knows that many have drowned swimming in the river in the area, but that he will keep swimming.

(fk/cm)