Water Crisis Looms In Damascus-UN Report

The UN humanitarian agency in Syria has expressed alarm that four million people living in the capital city of Damascus and surrounding areas have been cut off from the main water supply for the past two weeks.

Two primary sources of drinking water which provide clean and safe water for 70 percent of the population in and around Damascus are not functioning, the agency says.

Ain al-Fijah is a spring which supplies water to all of Damascus and the Wadi Barada source is located in a rebel-held valley outside of the city.

The two have been damaged by "deliberate targeting," including intense airstrikes and shelling.

The authorities have taken measure to ration the water to address its scarcity.

The city residents have started to buy water from private vendors, where prices and water quality are unregulated.

The UN is concerned that the lack of water could lead to waterborne diseases, particularly among children.

Close to 15 million people throughout Syria are in need of water assistance and households spend up to 25 percent of their income to meet their daily water needs.

SOURCE: UN Radio