Heatwave causes more misery for refugees in Iraq

Описание: (2 Aug 2015) LEAD-IN:
A four day mandatory holiday has been announced in Iraq as temperatures soar past 50 degrees Celsius (123 degrees Fahrenheit).
Displaced families living in refugee camps are amongst those hardest hit by the heat wave.

STORY-LINE:
Sweltering heat and sandstorms have been sweeping across Iraq with almost record breaking temperatures registered on Friday.
Whilst the wealthiest Iraqis can enjoy air conditioning in their homes, these refugees in Baghdad's Skanya neighbourhood have nowhere to hide.
They have been engulfed by the heatwave as temperatures soar past 50 degrees Celsius (123 degrees Fahrenheit).
As families shelter in tents from the blistering sun, the only relief for some is fanning with a piece of cardboard.
Um Abdul-Rahman, a displaced mother, says the conditions are too much for her family.
''Our suffering is too difficult and unbearable. We cannot describe our situation in words. We fan ourselves with a piece of cardboard," says Abdul-Rahman.
Many women wait at the water tank to fill their containers, but even a longer queue forms when blocks of ice are delivered to the camp.
Residents pack the ice into buckets or wrap it in cloth before bringing this scarce resource back to their tents.
Refugee Mahmood Hindawi says the situation has been made worse because of the constant electricity outages.
''Iraq has been going through high temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius (123 degrees Fahrenheit). The refugee camp suffers from a shortage of ice and frequent outages of electricity," says Hindawi.
Scorching temperatures are normal in the Middle East this time of year, but the unprecedented heat wave prompted Iraqi government to impose a four-day mandatory holiday beginning last Thursday and urged residents to stay out of the sun.
It is the second heat advisory issued by the Iraqi authorities this month.

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