In some respects, life in Baghdad is defined by the daily struggle between the abnormality imposed by sanctions and the urge to live as if they did not exist. Drinking the tap water, for example, is a dubious proposition. Years of inadequate maintenance have left the city's water system, once state of the art, riddled with leaks, U.N. officials say. We'd go on picnics and visit friends. Now it's different.
Picnics are very expensive.
Nahamy said she recently sold her car because it was too expensive to repair. She is frustrated with the daily electricity outages and worries about whether the water from her faucet will make her sick. We are very strong now. And I don't speak just for myself. We continue to live.