SOMALIA: People Drink Contaminated Water
Irish Online says:
People in southern Somalia are being forced to drink contaminated water to survive one of the worst droughts in the Horn of Africa for a decade, a food monitoring group reported today. People have started dying after drinking water unfit for human or livestock consumption as wells dry up in the region, the Food Security Analysis Unit said, citing reports received from the area. “Water availability and accessibility remains the most critical factor effecting the livelihoods and lives throughout southern Somalia,†the group said. “Most water catchments in Gedu, Juba, Bay and Bakool are now completely dry, driving livestock and people to migrate in search of water.†Malnutrition is rising among people hit by the drought, which the group say is likely to worsen in the coming months. Clashes between rival groups over scarce water supplies and pastures have increased.