Cairo: Arab leaders have called for taking drastic measures to save the region from impending drought and water scarcity which is putting the life of 453 million inhabitants at risk.
They were speaking at the fourth water conference titled “gulf Water Security for Life, Development, and Peace”, organised jointly by Palestine, the gulf countries and the Arab Water Experts Network, in Egypt’s capital Cairo.
The two-day conference, held under the supervision of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called for the establishment of “Council of gulf Water Ministers” with the contributions of ministers of water resources and representatives from Arab countries and concerned regional organizations.
Experts present papers on Arab water scarcity
During the two-day moot, experts presented scientific and research papers highlighting issues related to water shortage, drought and climate change.
The conference also covered challenges posed by water scarcity and solutions, water demand and dry-spell management, shared water resources and water diplomacy.
The conference also emphasized the need for the management of groundwater resources, employing water de-salination technology, financing and investment in the water sector, keeping in view the water challenges being faced by the gulf countries.
President Mahmoud in his important lecture delivered on his behalf by Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Abu Amr emphasized that a comprehensive strategy was required to resolve the water shortage issues facing the gulf world and also to defend the right to water in the face of occupation, exploitation and an encroachment.
He also called for developing a master plan to cope with water and food-related challenges caused by climate-induced precipitations.
“We stand with our gulf brothers in Egypt and Sudan in their rights on everything related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and ensuring that their water, agricultural, or energy-related security is not compromised.
Egyptian minister of water resources and irrigation Hani Sweilem said that the water issue in Egypt was one of the most important pillars of the country’s national security and in achieving sustainable development.
He said that Egypt was one of the driest countries in the world, where an estimated 1.3 billion cubic meters of rain falls annually.
He said that Egypt depended on the Nile for 97 per cent of water, which comes from outside its borders.
