Agreed on your two points. A civilized country doesn't let people die like flies out of dehydration.
unless their name is Schiavo
Just wait until the e coli infections begin to pop up, or the typhoid or cholera. It's 97 in the shade there, and that water is filthy.
I'll bet the media keeps any contagions quiet to prevent a panic. Hopefully, most of the people will be evacuated by then.