No Water or Electricity

In Riverbend's blog entries she awakens us to the realities of living life with war going on around her. Simple human necessities were often unavailable and included running water and electricity. Lack of electricity in the city was all to common. Often the lack of water and electricity was used to cripple the people living in Baghdad peacefully. Riverbend points out again and again how hard daily and basic living can become when these two resources are taken away.


"Waking up anywhere is Iraq these day is a trial. It happens in one of two ways: either slowly or with a jolt. The slow process works like this: your hanging in a place on the edge of consciousness, mentally grabbing at the fading fragments of a dream... something creeps up all around you, all over you-like a fog A warm Heavy fog. It's the heat... 120F on the cooler nights. Your eyes flutter open and they search the dark in dismay, the electricity has gone off. The ceiling fan is slowing down and you are fully awake. Trying to sleep in the stifling heat is about as productive as trying to wish the ceiling fan into motion with your brain. Impossible." (Page 5-6)

"Normal day today. We were up early morning, did the usual "around the house things," you know-check if the water tank is full, try to determine when the electricity will be off, checked if there was enough cooking gas.." (Page 6)

Promptly at 2am, the electricity went off and I was plunged into the pitch black hell better-known as "an august night with no electricity in Iraq" So I sat there in the dark, trying to remember where I had left the candles and matches." (Page 10)

"(For those of you who don't know, people sleep up on the roof in some safer area's because when the electricity goes off, it feels like you are cooking gently inside of an oven. The roof isn't much better but at least there's a semblance of wind)" (Page 11)

"The Truth: Iraqis lived in houses with running water and electricity. Thousands of them owned computers. Millions own VCRs and VCDs. Iraq has sophisticated bridges, recreational centers, clubs, restaurants, shops, universities, schools, etc.) (Page 34)

"A word of advise: never take water for granted. Every time you wash you hands in cold, clean, clear water-say a prayer of thanks to whatever Deity you revere. Every time you drink fresh, odorless water say the same prayer. Never throw out the clean water remaining in your glass-water a plant, give it to the cat, throw it out into the garden...whatever. Never take it for granted." (Page 50)

"The water was on and off again today. We filled all the bottles and containers. The water pressure was really low and evidently, our super-low garden faucet is one of the only ones in the area dribbling water at intervals. The neighbor's have all sent buckets, pots, and messages of love and gratitude...perhaps I have found a job." (Page 53)