France's overseas territory sees protest against water shortages

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) – Residents of Mayotte Island, France's overseas territory, on Saturday organized a rally to protest against the water shortage on the island.

The residents demanded a solution to the "water crisis" which has been going on for months, Franceinfo reported.

Carrying banners reading "Mayotte is thirsty" and "Water is a source of life, not a source of profit" as well as plastic bottles filled with contaminated water, the demonstrators chanted "We are thirsty."

Mayotte Island, neighboring Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is home to about 300,000 people.

The island has repeatedly experienced periods of drought for many years, affecting drinking water reserves and causing water shortages.

Residents of the island, which has been suffering its most severe drought since 1997, have drinking water in their homes every third day since Monday.