(Rome) Hundreds of residents of the Sicilian city of Agrigento demonstrated Friday evening against the lack of water caused by drought and the mismanagement of distribution networks, illustrating the radical impact of global warming on the large Italian island.
The protesters marched behind a large banner proclaiming “we want water” and shouted slogans such as “shame, shame” and “water is a right for all, water is a fundamental right”, alternating between music and whistles aimed at municipal authorities.
The demonstration was organised by a local association which emphasises that “the population is exhausted by the constant lack of water and the inefficient management of water resources”.
“The water situation in the city and its province has become unbearable, with frequent interruptions in supply and unsustainable rationing,” the association lamented in a statement.
PHOTO ANDREW MEDICHINI, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
While the Catholic Church is very influential in Sicily, the Archbishopric of Agrigento also spoke out on Friday to denounce “an inadequate water supply” and to demand “effective emergency and structural solutions.”
Agrigento, a city of 55,000 on the southern coast of Sicily, is best known for its “Valley of the Temples,” a splendid archaeological site dotted with well-preserved Greek temples that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The island’s top officials adopted measures earlier in the day during a crisis meeting that should increase the amount of water available in Agrigento by 20% within ten days, according to the Ansa agency.
While the Catholic Church is very influential in Sicily, the Archbishopric of Agrigento also spoke out on Friday to denounce “an inadequate water supply” and to demand “effective emergency and structural solutions.”
Sicily was declared in a state of emergency in May by the government of Giorgia Meloni, in order to release funds for the purchase of water tankers, the drilling of wells and the renovation of pumping and desalination stations.
PHOTO LUDOVIC MARIN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister
This year, Sicily, the former breadbasket of ancient Greece and Rome, threatened by desertification by global warming, is expected to see its harvests collapse by an average of more than 50%, according to Coldiretti, the main professional association in the agricultural sector.
The effects of drought are further compounded by the lack of investment in an infrastructure system that prevents water from being wasted.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), Sicily is one of the worst performers in Italy in this area with 51.6% of water lost in distribution circuits in 2022.