Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
Puerto Ricans’ struggle to access reliable water is an avoidable catastrophe and indicative of the broader abandonment of critical infrastructure investments
San Juan, PR — U.S citizens in Puerto Rico are facing a worsening water crisis at the height of hurricane season. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO at Hispanic Federation.
“The current water crisis in Puerto Rico is a complex issue. What is undeniable is that Governor Jenniffer González and her administration were aware of the issue and failed to prevent what was an already intolerable situation. For decades, communities have lived without fair access to water resources, and experts have repeatedly warned that the lack of infrastructure maintenance and poor watershed management would lead Puerto Rico to the water crisis it faces today. This year, the weather models predicted a drier hurricane season, a direct correlation with the rise in climate change. This is very simple. This situation was preventable, and the people of Puerto Rico should not accept more excuses. We demand concrete and immediate actions from the Puerto Rico government to exhaust every local and federal remedy available and cease making decisions that jeopardize Puerto Rico’s access to reliable water resources. The government must protect and prioritize domestic and human use while ensuring long-term sustainable development.
People in Puerto Rico are rightfully fed up with the lack of dignified and reliable access to water and other basic resources. No one should have to wait on long lines and haul buckets of water from city tankers and unfiltered streams just to get through their daily lives. No one should have to wake up in the middle of the night to do laundry, bathe, or clean because that’s the only time water is available. Water is a human right, and yet even the most vulnerable in our communities are being left to fend for themselves.
Recognizing that water is a human right, Hispanic Federation calls on leaders to support local efforts to assist vulnerable communities struggling to access reliable water supplies.”
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
