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Civil Administration Demolishes a Water Reservoir in Bardala Village/ Tubas Governorate
Violation: Demolishing a water reservoir.
Location: Bardala village / Tubas Governorate.
Date: July 12th 2021.
Perpetrators: The Israeli Civil Administration.
Victims: Farmer Samer Sawafta.
Description:
Monday, July 12th 2021, the Israeli Occupation Forces accompanied by the so-called building inspector at the Israeli Civil Administration raided “Marah Nemer” area in the northern Jordan Valley east Bardala village. And a Bulldozer accompanying the forces carried out the demolition of a water reservoir at the location.
The following table shows more information about the targeted reservoir:
Victim name | Number of beneficiaries/ farmers affected | Number of family members of the beneficaries | children | females | Irrigated area | About the targeted pool (m2) | Military order number |
Samer Sawafta | 7 | 31 | 11 | 12 | 54 dunums planted with vegetables/ of which 20 dunums are protected agriculture | Water reservoir – pool (250 m3) | 21677 |
The targeted reservoir received a demolition order in Monday, May 31st 2021, issued in reference to Military order number (1797), which requires removing the structure within 96 hours.
The reservoir was used to storage harvested water for a collective irrigation projects that serves farmers at the area..
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The pool after the demolition
The notice
Last May the Occupation Demolished two water pools at the village, based on notices also issued in reference to The Arbitrary military Order (1797) which restricts Palestinian Construction in C area.
Since 2006, People of Bardala Village have been suffering from water shortage, The Israeli Water Company Mekorot caps water use for farmers to 1100 m3 per year. Noteworthy, the occupation would impose control over the village’s artesian water, and sell them to farmers with high prices.
The targeted project was a partial solution for the ongoing water crisis, providing irrigation water for agriculture, and the extra water is kept for hot summer days when water is even harder to get.
However, in addition to imposing illegal control over Palestinian natural resources, the occupation targets water harvesting projects and irrigation techniques to make practicing agriculture an impossible task in the Jordan Valley.