The Washington Post reports:

Jakeline Moncada had faith that her household reserves would hold out until Venezuela’s water service was restored.

But two nationwide blackouts and now the rationing of electricity have kept the water from flowing to a large swath of this South American country, including at Moncada’s home.

After 15 days without a drip from the faucet, the 43-year-old mother of three found herself alongside a creek in eastern Caracas this week, watching her teenage son maneuver clumsily down a muddy bank in jeans and sneakers to draw water their family might use to drink, cook and bathe.

“It’s so unfair,” Moncada said. “We are such a rich country. It’s not fair that this is happening.

“My daughter asked me recently, ‘Why are you crying, Mami?’ ”

First it was money. Then it was food. Then electricity. Now water. For millions of people in this oil-rich nation, the breakdown of basic services has reduced life to a daily struggle to secure fundamental needs — and as shortages spread, many say, it’s getting harder. Children are malnourished. Doctors are seeing increases in infectious diseases. Millions have fled the country. [Continue reading…]