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CNN Live At Daybreak

The New Iraq: Long Hot Summer

Aired June 24, 2003 - 05:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: French news reports say Baghdad has taken another power hit with electricity out more than 12 hours today. Today's blackout is another hardship for Baghdad residents, many of whom only get electricity for a few hours a day. Chad just told me it's 109 degrees in Baghdad today.
As CNN's Ben Wedeman reports, the summer's stifling heat makes the power outages unbearable.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Business couldn't be better in Baghdad's generator market. With the Iraqi capital sweltering through blast furnace temperatures, 100 degrees and above, and power cuts running at 16 hours a day and more, generators big and small are selling like never before.

Moving some of these monsters is far more challenging than selling them. New generators start at around $75. Used ones are also available at a price. Sales are way up, says generator merchant Abua Bess (ph), and he expects they'll stay up for months to come. His good fortune is bad news for most people.

Masin Faher (ph), the carpenter, waits for the power to come back on. Without electricity, his machinery gathers sawdust.

The flow of life depends on electricity, he says. If I can't work, others can't work, furniture merchants can't sell anything. Everything comes to a halt.

Across the street, the tailors are taking a daylong break, sweating through their umpteenth game of backgammon. The only businesses around here that aren't suffering are those that depend upon elbow grease.

Iman Totick (ph) and his family cool off on their doorstep. It's too hot inside.

This is no good, he says. It's disgusting. You can't keep food in the frig, you can't drink cold water.


Aired June 24, 2003 - 05:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: French news reports say Baghdad has taken another power hit with electricity out more than 12 hours today. Today's blackout is another hardship for Baghdad residents, many of whom only get electricity for a few hours a day. Chad just told me it's 109 degrees in Baghdad today.
As CNN's Ben Wedeman reports, the summer's stifling heat makes the power outages unbearable.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Business couldn't be better in Baghdad's generator market. With the Iraqi capital sweltering through blast furnace temperatures, 100 degrees and above, and power cuts running at 16 hours a day and more, generators big and small are selling like never before.

Moving some of these monsters is far more challenging than selling them. New generators start at around $75. Used ones are also available at a price. Sales are way up, says generator merchant Abua Bess (ph), and he expects they'll stay up for months to come. His good fortune is bad news for most people.

Masin Faher (ph), the carpenter, waits for the power to come back on. Without electricity, his machinery gathers sawdust.

The flow of life depends on electricity, he says. If I can't work, others can't work, furniture merchants can't sell anything. Everything comes to a halt.

Across the street, the tailors are taking a daylong break, sweating through their umpteenth game of backgammon. The only businesses around here that aren't suffering are those that depend upon elbow grease.

Iman Totick (ph) and his family cool off on their doorstep. It's too hot inside.

This is no good, he says. It's disgusting. You can't keep food in the frig, you can't drink cold water.