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Recently,
Egypt sponsored an internal conference “Cairo Water Week” which began on
October 14-18, 2018.
Seventy
nations participated represented by high officials, as well as the United
Nations, and the FAO. In addition, water
experts and scientists took part in the conference.
The
objective of the conference was to create awareness on water shortage in the
Arab World and to discuss the possibility of conserving water in light of the
high population increase.
The
attendees also discussed the negative future consequences of Global weather
changes and its impact on the region.
The
director of the Arab League, Mr. Abu el Gheet, and the head of the Arab Water
Council, Dr. Abed Ilati, they both recognized the water shortage in the Arab
World and called for its conservation.
Six
Arab countries are classified as water poverty stricken. The individual water
share in those countries is 500cu.m/year. According to the UN scale, the
average water need is 1000cu.m/person/per year.
None
of the Arab states can be classified as self-sufficient in food production. Sudan
is the only country that can be classified as self-sufficient in food
production. It can be the bread basket of Africa. Ironically, Sudan rely on the
import of wheat. This is due to the corruption of its government.
Egypt
is classified as the number one nation in wheat import due to the fact that
more than 90% of its land is barren desert, and also due to water shortage.
Egypt
gets 56 million cu.m. of water from the Nile River. This equals to 90% of the
water consumed annually in Egypt. In addition, another 1.2 billion cu.m. per
year from rain fall.
According
to the Egyptian minister of irrigation and water resources, Dr. Aded Ilatti,
Egypt is water poverty stricken. The average water consumed is 500 cu.m. per
person in a year.
The
discussion should also be viewed in light of Egypt population increase
(Masrawi.com 10/18.2018).
Experts
at the Conference provided technical information and discussed the
possibility of water management.
The
second focus in the conference was the UN report, that global weather changes
will negatively impact North Africa and the Arab World regions the most.
In
the next fifty years, the temperature will increase, rain fall will decrease,
desertification will increase. Furthermore, the sea level will rise causing
flooding to countries where the land is below sea level.
Egypt
will be among the countries where part of the country will be covered by sea
water.
Kolne
university in Germany issued a scientific report stating that more than 49 cities along the Mediterranean Sea and the
Atlantic Ocean will disappear from the rise of water level, Turkey, Greece and
Britain are among the countries that will be affected (al nahar 10/19/2018).
The
Conference provided important information, specially to the Egyptian public.
