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Cher has donated 180,000 bottles of water to a city in Michigan after its water supply became so contaminated with lead residents were unable to drink it.
President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency in Flint in the west of the state on Saturday over corrosive water leaking from old pipes in the Flint river.
The city had been drawing on reserves from the river since 2014 to keep costs down but the local government did not treat the corrosive water properly and it began to erode the old lead pipes.
A makeshift water collection point in Flint, Michigan (Getty Images) In a statement on Saturday, the singer said the bottles are due to arrive in the city on Wednesday.
She said: "This is a tragedy of staggering proportion and shocking that it's happening in the middle of our country."
The city’s 100,000 residents have reported vomiting fits, rashes and hair loss as a result of drinking the foul-smelling water.
Lead poisoning can also led to learning disabilities and behavioural problems in young children.
Dr Mona Hanna-Attisha, the director of pediatric residency at the local Hurley Children’s Hospital, first exposed the problems after state authorities initially dismissed her concerns.
She said: "It has such damning, lifelong and generational consequences.
"It was frustrating that it went on for so long".
Flint resident Mike Hickey holds the hand of his daughter Natielee, 4, as they walk through pastactivists protest outside of City Hall to protest Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's handling of the water crisis (AP) Currently parents are relying on bottled water and regular blood tests at local schools.
Sherri Millter, who has taken her son Jameer to be tested, said: “It really is a scary situation to know that we can't get clean drinking water.It really is scary to think someone knew about this and did nothing”.
People news in picturesShow all 18 1 /18People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons
EPA
People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France
Reuters
People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them “economic security” by reducing the Government’s spending deficit
Getty Images
People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australia’s National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity
Getty Images
People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican
Getty Images
People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October
Getty Images
People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia
People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles
People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said “I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality” but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, “I was just trying to say actors are more effective when they’re a mystery. Right?”
Getty
People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she said“Film-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesn’t create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I don’t qualify myself as a feminist."
Getty
People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walker’s daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her father’s death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames.
AP
People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards” and attempts to “prescribe ‘new rights’ that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs.” In 2013 he described homosexuals as “worse than pigs, goats and birds.”
Reuters
People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father'
2015 Getty Images
People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President.
Getty
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Flint - which is an hour’s drive north of Detroit - has suffered from a declining population in recent years with the collapse of the Midwest car manufacturing industry leading to an exodus of people.
An estimated 41 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.
Additional reporting by AP
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