Power cuts and water shortages hit chilly Iraq

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

Power cuts and water shortages hit chilly Iraq
By Aseel Kami and Wisam Mohammed

BAGHDAD, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Iraq's government on Monday blamed neighbouring countries, a gasoline shortage and sabotage for power cuts that have left people shivering in many parts of the country, gripped by a bitterly cold winter.

In the capital, where residents faced blackouts and water shortages during the summer, some districts were again reported to be without water and with only an hour or two of intermittent power a day.

"We have been without electricity for four or five days, not for a minute. Before that we used to have it for an hour a day. We have a small electricity heater that we all gather around," said Um Farah, 47, who lives in Qadissiya in southern Baghdad.

Temperatures in Baghdad have regularly been below zero since the start of winter and last week the city witnessed its first snowfall in memory. Residents in some areas said they had had no water for several days and rooftop water tanks were running low.

"This is a crisis. We have not had electricity for two days. As for water, it has been cut since yesterday until now," said Um Aqil, 57, in Baghdad's northeast Adhamiya district.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL446586.htm

[Olney Blue]

1. This is a travesty.

[movonne]

2. This makes me sick...just look what we have done to the people

of Iraq....

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Poisoning the hearts and minds for generations to come

We MUST hold the tyrants that started this war accountable! :mad: And, we need to rectify the situation immediately.

[Baby Snooks]

4. But they are free of Saddam Hussein!

That is the response by most Republicans. We have liberated the Iraqis.

So much for liberation.

[Thor_MN]

5. But, but, everything's going so well!!!