The west of the Iraqi capital suffered from severe water shortages Tuesday amid searing summer temperatures following an attack against a water purification station. The station in the northern suburb of Taji was "sabotaged by terrorists, affecting the distribution of drinking water on the west bank of the Tigris river which runs through the capital, a government statement said.
An official from the Baghdad water company who wished to remain anonymous said the station had been hit by anti-tank rockets late Saturday and that one million people had been left without water as temperatures climbed to 41 degrees (almost 106 F). "This attack has caused lots of problems for Baghdad residents, especially for innocent children and the elderly who need a lot of water at this time of year," the statement said.
Baghdad, which has around 6.5 million inhabitants, faces repeated water shortages owing to obsolete installations. While around 97 percent of homes and businesses are hooked up to the city's water system, only 63 percent receive water on a regular basis, according to UN figures. "The aim of this attack is to make Iraqis' lives more difficult," the government said.
Repairs had begun on Sunday and normal supplies were expected to resume on Wednesday. At the capital's Yarmuk hospital, tanker trucks helped ensure an adequate supply of water. In the affected neighborhoods, firetrucks distributed water but warned residents not to drink it, while many crossed the Tigris to stay with friends or relatives. |