Roundup: Iraqis suffer power and water shortage under scorching sun

With a temperature over 50 degrees Celsius now, the power shortage and the polluted drinking water have made Iraq a step closer to the earthly hell.

Nevertheless, the suffering Iraqis are trying every means possible to stay with the hope that the future could save them from this agony.

The time without power supply extended to 22 hours a day last week. With air-conditioners unable to work, Iraqis lost their last source of comfort.

Iraqis found relief in small generators, widely available in the markets. But high unemployment rate and price rise make generator a luxury, the cheapest of which is about 100 US dollars.

The latest study by the UN Development Program showed that 75 percent of the Iraqi households are suffering from unstable power supply, especially in Baghdad, where the rate is as high as 92 percent.

To deal with the power break, these households have to share generators in the neighborhood.

Government officials attributed the power shortage to the aging power plants in Iraq after 13 years embargo since 1990. Sabotage against the power facilities made the situation even worse.

There are rumors in Baghdad saying the generators importers are behind the sabotage so that the demand for generators would increase.

Iraqis are grappling not only with power crisis in summer, but also with fuel shortage.

"The oil ministry is studying ways to distribute fuel by coupons," said Asim Jihad, the spokesman for the ministry.

"The problems of drinking water and electricity are bigger than the officials are able to solve," said Muayd Abdul Zahra, an Iraqi journalist.

"The issue of electricity had become such a torture on the citizens that they are tired of any more excuses," he added.

Source: Xinhua