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France\u2019s poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment | Drought<\/p>\n
Drop by disappearing drop, water is an ever more precious resource on Mayotte,\u00a0the poorest place in the European Union.<\/p>\n
Taps flow just one day out of three in this French territory off Africa\u2019s eastern coast, thanks to a drawn-out drought compounded by years of underinvestment and mismanagement.<\/p>\n
Diseases like cholera and typhoid are on the rebound, and the French army recently intervened to distribute water and quell tensions over supplies.<\/p>\n
The crisis is a wake-up call to the French government about the challenges and cost of managing human-caused climate change across France\u2019s far-flung territories.<\/p>\n
Racha Mousdikoudine, a 38-year-old mother of two living in Labattoir, washes dishes with bottled water, when she can get it. When the water taps run, she says, \u201cI have to choose between taking a shower or preserving my water supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis shortage will be global in a few years. This is an opportunity for all French people to stand in solidarity with us. To be with us, to find solutions and make visible the situation happening in Mayotte,\u201d Mousdikoudine said. \u201cBecause this can happen in all French departments.\u201d<\/p>\n
She is helping coordinate a protest movement called \u201cMayotte is Thirsty,\u201d which is demanding accountability for alleged embezzlement, leaks and lack of investment in sustainable water supplies.<\/p>\n
At one recent protest, residents sang, shouted and banged empty plastic bottles as they marched into the Mayotte water management company.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to keep talking with the authorities, but we are not going to sit idly by,\u201d said Mousdikoudine. \u201cIf we stay at home, politicians will still say that the population is resilient, that we can manage this situation. But we cannot do it. Lives are at stake, our physical and mental health, as well as our children\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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