IRAQ: IRAQI'S PLUNGE INTO THE POLLUTED TIGRIS TO COOL OFF FROM THE SWELTERING BAGHDAD HEAT

Record ID: 649082

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQI'S PLUNGE INTO THE POLLUTED TIGRIS TO COOL OFF FROM THE SWELTERING BAGHDAD HEAT
  • Date: 8th July 2004
  • Summary: (W1) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 8, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SUN RAYS PAN DOWN TO KAKRAMMANA STATUE IN BAGHDAD 0.05 2. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN BAGHDAD STREET (3 SHOTS) 0.21 3. REFLECTION OF SUN RAYS ON WINDSCREEN OF CAR 0.25 4. PEOPLE NEAR RIVER 0.30 5. MEN PLAYING IN WATER; MAN POURING WATER ON HIS HEAD (2 SHOTS) 0.48 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SWIMMER ADNAN AKRAM SAYING: "We are swimming because the weather is very hot and we can not tolerate the heat and there is no electricity. We cannot sleep neither in day nor at night. What we can do. We swim to cool our hearts." 1.01 7. MEN JUMPING IN WATER 1.08 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUHANNED AYYASH SAYING: "The weather is very hot and specially in Baghdad. People want to comfort themselves. People are very tried from heat and lack of security." 1.20 9. ICE CREAM SHOP 1.24 10. CU/SV: EMPLOYEES SERVING AT ICE CREAM SHOP (2 SHOTS) 1.33 11. PEOPLE BUYING ICE CREAM 1.37 12. SV/CU: PEOPLE IN CAR EATING ICE CREAM (2 SHOTS) 1.47 13. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOP EATING ICE CREAM 1.51 14. PEOPLE IN CAR EATING ICE CREAM 1.55 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA2KK4D4A925RSC9G8FISK76OXZ
  • Story Text: In the sweltering summer heat, some Iraqis plunged
    into the polluted Tigris river in the capital to cool off .



    In the sweltering summer heat on Thursday (July 8),
    some Iraqis plunged into the polluted Tigris river in the
    capital to cool off while many blamed the United States for
    not providing enough power to cool their baking homes.

    Temperatures in Baghdad regularly soar to 50 degrees
    Celsius or above in July and August. Fans, air conditioning
    and fridges are essentials to keeping fresh during the
    annual heatwave.

    "We are swimming because the weather is very hot and we
    can not tolerate the heat and there is no electricity. We
    cannot sleep neither in day nor at night. What we can do.

    We swim to cool our hearts," Adnan Akram who was swimming
    in the river said.

    Struggling with security worries and massive neglect,
    the now defunct U.S.-led occupying authority failed to
    deliver on a promise to raise capacity in the power sector
    in June to 6,000 megawatts (MW).

    Iraqi officials say capacity remains short of that
    level, largely blaming insurgent attacks. But even 6,000 MW
    is below what Iraq needs to ensure a steady supply of
    electricity to homes, offices and factories.

    Many homes and offices depend on small generators
    that run day and night to keep electrical appliances
    working during power cuts that can last for many hours at a
    stretch.

    "The weather is very hot and specially in Baghdad.

    People want to comfort themselves. People are very tired
    from heat and lack of security," Muhanned Ayyash said.

    Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said on Tuesday that
    attacks by insurgents on oil pipelines were leaving most
    Iraqis without electricity.



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