Venezuela: Blackouts compounded by lack of water

By Lokman Ilhan

CARACAS, Venezuela (AA) – Venezuela’s capital Caracas and areas throughout the country are suffering from a lack of tap water amid continuing power cuts.

A young mother seeking water on Wednesday near the highway by opening up water lines told Anadolu Agency that she had been unable to bathe her children for a week.

Another local said they use water only for sanitation, while another woman said she has to use water for cooking as well.

Residents of Caracas, deprived of tap water for two weeks, are flocking to places such as parks and gardens, while others break into drainage and sewage pipes in an effort to reach water.

Elsewhere, people resort to water from rivers and streams, risking disease in the process.

This month much of Venezuela has been subject to weeks of blackouts.

While the government said the cuts were due to cyber-attacks and physical sabotage, the opposition claimed the electrical system collapsed due to government neglect of the infrastructure.

On Sunday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity amid nationwide power cuts.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions flared when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 -- a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

Turkey, Russia, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have put their weight behind Maduro.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar