In Pictures

Venezuela in crisis: ‘There is no water, no power, no nothing’

Repeated blackouts have led to severe water shortages across the country.

Luis (I’m not sure I got his name right, the recording is not clear :(), visibly tired, while trying to get potable water said that “I’m here to fill my little bucket, this water is clean, it is com — 'I'm here to fill my little bucket, this water is clean, it is coming from the mountain, I'm exhausted from this situation, but we have to endure,' said Luis while waiting to get water. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

Caracas, Venezuela – Repeated power grid failures in Venezuela have led to water shortages across the country.

With no electricity, pumping stations cease to function, severely limiting the water services.

But Venezuelans do their best to find water wherever they can: from springs, leaky pipes, gutters, government-provided tankers and the water that flows through the Guaire River in Caracas.

In the country’s most impoverished areas, residents, who have experienced shortages for years, have felt the power cuts the hardest.

“Today, I feel sick, there is no water, no power, no nothing. I used to have a lot, but things have changed in the last years,” said Carmen, a 70-year-old in Petare, one of the world’s largest slums, located in the hills on the outskirts of Caracas,

President Nicolas Maduro blames opponents of sabotaging the power supply. The country’s opposition, led by Juan Guaido, says the problem is caused by mismanagement, corruption and lack up upkeep of Venezuela’s power and water networks.

The water shortages only add more stress to residents trying to cope with the country’s deepening political and economic crises.

People went out to the streets of Caracas to protest for the lack of water. “I am here due to the lack of services, as I have spent one month without water, and before the blackout we still had — Protesters in Caracas express anger over the lack of water. 'I am here due to the lack of services, as I have spent one month without water, and before the blackout we still had scarcity,' Yolanda, a protester told Al Jazeera. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

The shortage of water has hit society as families from the poorest neighbourhoods to the wealthiest areas, endure the country''s deepest economic crisis ever [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/ Al Jazeera] — Water shortages add to the stress families across Venezuela already face as they struggle to cope with the country's deep economic crisis. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

Living with a scarcity of water is becoming the norm in some areas, with many doing their best to collect it when it’s available [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/ Al Jazeera] — Living with a scarcity of water is becoming the norm in some areas, with many doing their best to collect it when it's available. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

“I have spent 27 years carrying water,” Elena said, there is never water in this neighbourhood” [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera] — 'I have spent 27 years carrying water,' Elena said, adding, 'there is never water in this neighbourhood.' [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

“In my house, I always received water and now my house is the last one to receive the resource. I have spent already one month without water in my house,” Carmen,74, said [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/ Al J — 'In my house, I always received water and now my house is the last one to receive the resource. I have spent already one month without water in my house,' Carmen, 74, said. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

Faced with uncertainty of when water supply may return, people are conserving as much water as they can take when they find it available [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/ Al Jazeera] — Venezuelans conserve as much water as they can whenever they find it available. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

Julio,65, says he is sick and has spent around 16-18 days without water.”I always come here to find my water, I am sick, but if it doesn’t reach my house, I need to find a way of getting it” [Elizabet — Julio, 65, said he is sick and has spent around 16-18 days without water. 'I always come here to find my water. I am sick, but if it doesn’t reach my house, I need to find a way of getting it. I have some help, but I still need to be here,' he said, pointing to the top of the hill where his house is, as he waits for his large bottles to be filled. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

Juan, 41-years-old, starts collecting water at 7am, on and off he has spent nearly two months without water, “in my house we are seven, and we need to collect water for the toilets, washing dishes, cl — Juan, 41-years-old, said he starts collecting water at 7am. He said, on and off, he has spent nearly two months without water. 'In my house, we are seven, and we need to collect water for the toilets, washing dishes, cleaning and our kitchen,' he said. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

“This situation is hard, we have water, but the blackouts have affected the supply” Azael Patias, 44, said “Venezuelans have lots of resources, that’s clear,” “Look at how the US and all the rest a — 'This situation is hard, we have water, but the blackouts have affected the supply,' said Azael Patias, 44. 'Venezuelans have lots of resources, that’s clear,' Patias said. 'Look at how the US and all the rest are trying to steal our resources, but we are being victims of an unconventional war, and it has turned to be really difficult.' [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]

But despite water being available in some areas, many times when it reaches they don’t come in clean conditions. Citizens spend hours trying to find clean resources [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/ — In areas where water is available, often it is not clean. [Elizabeth Melimopoulos/Al Jazeera]