Maldives Capital Runs Out Of Water; Fire At Desal Plant Prompts Bottled Water Air- And Sealift

The Maldives, a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, has run out of water. A popular tourist destination surrounded by pristine seas and turquoise-blue ocean vistas, the archipelago has declared a state of emergency after a fire at its only desalination plant led to the shortage that has affected the 130,000 inhabitants of the capital, Male.

Residents of Male are receiving bottled and desalinated water provided by neighboring countries via public taps and mobile vehicles, according to a statement issued by the United Nations on Monday.

The water crisis, which began on Dec. 4, has angered local residents, who attacked shops that rationed mineral water. Hotels in the island group said their supplies were running out.

India, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rushed to airlift bottled water and provide aid to the thirsty nation as the taps ran dry. Syed Akbaruddin, India's Foreign Ministry spokesman, on Friday said his government was sending five aircraft with water and two ships with parts that could help fix the machinery at the plant.

EDIT

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/8/maldives-water-crisis.html