The silent thirst

The Daily Quest For a Drop of Water

Malta, with its picturesque landscapes, hides a painful reality under its sunny exterior — a silent yet profound water crisis.

This isn’t a narrative of scarce rainfalls or dried-up wells but a human crisis, one of a daily struggle for a drop of water, a struggle that often goes unnoticed amidst the hustle and bustle of modern conveniences.

Imagine waking up to a day without water. The comforting morning ritual of a warm shower or a cup of coffee is beyond reach.

This isn’t a scene from a dystopian tale but a harsh reality faced by a substantial number in Malta. While we often take the ease of turning a tap for granted, there are those among us for whom every drop of water is a treasure.

The story unfolds every day at the Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta, where 120 individuals seek solace and a sip of life. Their eyes scour through bins for plastic containers; ironically, a daily treasure hunt made more demanding thanks to the recycling schemes in effect today.

The joy of finding a container leads them to the Soup Kitchen, where the water not only quenches their thirst, but also fills a gaping void in their lives.

But the narrative goes beyond quenching thirst. The lack of water robs individuals of basic…