IRAQ-HEATWAVE/POWER CUTS PROTEST Iraqis protest against power cuts and water shortages in Basra

Record ID: 145428

  • Title: IRAQ-HEATWAVE/POWER CUTS PROTEST Iraqis protest against power cuts and water shortages in Basra
  • Date: 1st August 2015
  • Summary: BASRA, IRAQ (AUGUST 1, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WAVING IRAQI FLAGS, BANNERS PROTESTER CARRYING LARGE BANNER WITH CARICATURE DRAWING OF OCTOPUS REPRESENTING POLITICAL BLOCS, CORRUPTION, UNEMPLOYMENT, CRIME PROTESTER LEADING CHANTS MORE OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, SHEIK JASSIM AL RAMMAHI, SAYING: "In my opinion, all participating blocs have fai
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1YYCO4EELZ5IVHGZPJWFOKRRW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of residents of Iraq's southern oil-city of Basra demonstrated on Saturday (August 1) over frequent electricity cuts and poor quality of water, demanding better services from the government.
    More than 600 people waved banners as they protested in front of the governor's office to demand a solution to the long-running problems of extended power cuts and salty tap water.
    "In my opinion, all participating blocs have failed and that's the reason for the deterioration of services. What's more strange is the allegation that anyone who protests is paid, an infiltrator or a spy and this is dangerous," said protester Sheikh Jassim al Rammahi.
    Years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq's national grid still supplies only a few hours of power per day, driving up costs for businesses and compounding the summer heat.
    Protesters blamed the lack of services on government corruption and waved banners critical of political blocs.
    "Our demands are very simple: first of all, to be fair with Basra in the distribution of electricity and water. All people from Basra are buying water and to be fair towards Basra with jobs - all young people in Basra are left without jobs but people from other provinces come to work here. Secondly, customs fees should be removed, because it's applied only in Basra but not in Kurdistan and we consider it as a crime. Thirdly, not giving the harbours for joint operations because the operation is fake. The minister is not aware of that but I will tell him that it's a myth and it's all to steal Basra's money,'' another protester Al Ali Lami said.
    Iraq's infrastructure was severely damaged during the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussain and the country has suffered chronic power shortages ever since.
    The power outages has been a source of concern for Iraqis across Iraq. In central Baghdad on Friday (July 31), hundreds of people protested for the same reasons.
    The government has repeatedly promised an end to the crisis, compounded by insurgent attacks since 2003, but shortages have continued and private generators flourished as an alternative.
    Power from the national grid is on only a few hours a day in most of the country, which Iraqis say is difficult to cope with in the searing summer heat.
    The government declared Thursday (July 30) to Sunday (August 2) a holiday because of the high temperatures expected to break the 50-degree Celsius mark.
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