London: Barack Obama has declared a federal emergency over a city’s toxic water crisis that has left more than 1,00,000 residents without water safe enough to drink or cook with.
Water in Flint, Michigan became contaminated two years ago when lead from the city’s old pipes leaked into the supply.
The emergency declaration will enable $5m of funding to be used to provide water for the city.
Rick Snyder, the city’s governor, had previously requested £34m in federal aid from the government but it had been declined because federal emergency declarations are usually reserved just for natural disasters.
However, an exception has been made for Flint where residents have complained of rashes and headaches.
The White House all-owed the Federal Eme-rgency Management Ag-ency (FEMA) to initiate disaster relief efforts to “alleviate the hardship and suffering’ of Flint’s residents.
Fresh water and filters will now be shared out across the city.
A lawsuit has been raised against both Governor Snyder and the State of Michigan for allegedly ignoring the city’s water crisis since it started in April 2014.
People in the city have been scathing of the apparent delayed response by authorities.
