Libya's rogue militias cut capital’s water supply
A group of armed men cut off water supplies to the Libyan capital Tripoli, which indicates the fragility of resources in a country plagued by chaos.
Libya’s natural resources, including oil and freshwater, continue to be abused and used for different political ends by various militias, particularly those in close proximity to the oil fields, for example, in the southern parts of the country.
On Aug. 21, 2011, when most of Tripoli fell to the rebels, six months after the start of the civil war, water supplies were cut for three days, making the already difficult conditions there even more miserable. Ever since, hardly a year has passed without water failures because of sabotage, power shortages or for political reasons. Taps at homes have typically gone dry for a week or less, but the latest cut dragged on for over two weeks, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 1.
