France’s poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment

By GREGOIRE MEROT
Associated Press

MAMOUDZOU, Mayotte (AP) — Water taps flow just one day out of three in Mayotte, a French territory off Africa’s eastern coast. That’s because of a drawn-out drought compounded by years of water mismanagement. Diseases like cholera and typhoid are on the rebound, and the French army recently intervened to distribute water and quell tensions over supplies. The crisis is a wakeup call to the French government about the challenges and cost of managing climate change across France’s far-flung territories. A protest movement called “Mayotte is Thirsty” is demanding accountability for alleged embezzling, leaks and lack of investment in sustainable water supplies. France’s minister for overseas territories thanked the people of Mayotte for “accepting the unacceptable.”