caracas, Venezuela

Residents of capital city face shortage of drinking water

Residents of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, who already struggle to find toilet paper and deodorant, are facing a new shortage – drinking water.

State water utility Hidrocapital this month started rationing water in the capital. Some areas of the city receive water service only three days a week, with most neighborhoods going without water at least one day a week. When water does flow, few residents dare to drink it because of contamination.

toronto

Malnourished 10-year-old boy found living in squalor

A malnourished 10-year-old boy was found living in squalor in a locked bedroom at an Ontario home, where authorities allege he’d been held for up to two years by his aunt and uncle, police said Friday.

The boy was fed twice a day with fast food, was left alone for long stretches each day, did not attend school and spoke limited English, authorities said.

Police were alerted to the boy by the Children Aid’s Society, which received a tip from the public, London Police Detective Kevin Heslop said. When police arrived to the home where the boy was staying alone at the time, they found him locked in a bedroom with food waste and feces strewn about.

“The bed was soaked in urine as was child’s pajamas and there was food remains throughout the house,” said Heslop. “The child was confused and upset but the child is doing quite well now.”

The boy was taken to hospital Thursday and was diagnosed as being underweight and suffering from malnutrition. He has since been released from hospital and is in the care of the Children’s Aid Society.

“It’s a horrific case and everyone sees it like that,” said Heslop. “Of course this is upsetting, it’s upsetting to everyone.”

– From news service reports

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