Liberia

Hit by water shortage, Liberians line up in streets with buckets
Associated Press, April 27, 2000

MONROVIA, Liberia- Thousands of residents were lining up with buckets and barrels Thursday during a severe water shortage in Liberia's capital. Daily water supplies trucked into Monrovia by European Union have been slashed by nearly two-thirds - from 18,600 gallons to 6,000 gallons a day - because of declining levels in wells outside the city. The crisis was exacerbated by the fact that President Charles Taylor's government has neglected to restore running water, electricity and other basic services since Liberia's 1989-96 civil war. International aid agencies and foreign donors have roundly accused Taylor of spending lavishly on the military while neglecting development. An African diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity also accused Taylor's government of neglect. "Any post-war government that is serious about attracting investment has to first prioritize lights and water," the diplomat said.

Meanwhile, residents like Mark Gedeh spent up to four hours on Wednesday waiting at the central supply station in central Monrovia for the 15 gallons allotted to him by the EU. His family would use it to drink and use putrid river water for washing, he said. An EU employee said the organization hoped the government would soon open its water treatment plant, which has been under repair for several years. "We will continue serving residents with small quantities until the water treatment plant is back in operation," Julius Clinton said. Yet an official in Taylor's government would give no timetable, saying the administration was in touch with "friendly governments" to provide aid. A generator and fuel was still needed to get the water plant back in operation, a sewage treatment plant worker said.