EU ambassador to Iraq fell ill because of polluted water in Basra

Newsroom 05/10/2018 | 13:04

The European Union Ramon Baecula ambassador to Iraq has been ill with polluted water in Basra, which has already caused tens of thousands of hospitalizations and generated violent demonstrations, AFP reports.

Since mid-August, the population of Basra, a city in southern Iraq, is facing a lack of water for consumption: the one delivered by the authorities, polluted by sea water, has become salty and has caused the hospitalization of over 90,000 people, victims of intoxication, according to the High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq.

Visiting Basra, Ramon Blecua, the EU’s ambassador to Iraq, has also been sick.

”I felt sorry this morning and had to cancel several meetings. UNICEF’s doctor found that water pollution is the cause, ”he said.

At the beginning of September, violent demonstrations broke out in Basra against the corruption of the leaders and the viciousness of public services, and 12 demonstrators were killed. Iran’s consulate has also been fired by demonstrators.