[ad_1]
The Arab Water Council held its fifth general meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest developments in water issues in the Arab world and the efforts that each country must make to achieve the sixth goal of development. sustainable by 2030 and to monitor the water situation in the countries of the region.
Saif Al-Din Hamad Abdullah, a former Sudanese Minister of Irrigation, said that 80 percent of shared surface water resources lie outside the Arab world, which requires quiet diplomacy towards neighboring countries, thus guaranteeing water resources from the upper basin countries. And the different tributaries represent the main pillar of the current economy of most Arab countries.
Saif al-Din called for the political and economic stability of these countries and to help them to advance the development process as much as the potential of the Arab countries and their capabilities, especially in the light of global changes, stressing the need for to resolve all disputes between States by peaceful means in accordance with international conventions, commercial and technical expertise in various fields and exchange of experiences in the fields of water resources, agriculture and water. 39 energy and strengthening of the links of terrestrial, maritime, air and communication networks with the countries concerned.
Saifuddin stressed the importance of preparing a future vision of the content of the cooperation between the Arab countries and the countries of the upper basins, on the basis of a stable policy specialized in cooperation with them for the development and the prosperity of the peoples of the region, as well as the need to look at things objectively, recognizing the right of countries to fair exploitation of Arab water.
Dr. Saif al-Din said Arab countries were invited to help countries in the upper basins implement effective water management policies to harvest rainwater, provide Safe drinking water and sanitation, especially in African countries, and help them develop their water resources in general.
He concluded by stressing the importance of summit meetings at the level of heads of state to improve relations, and the importance of attending watershed meetings, as well as diplomacy to resolve regional conflicts through peaceful means and through political negotiations.
In a related contextAhmed Abul-Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, said the water crisis in the Arab countries had political dimensions, stressing that the drought that had plagued Syria before the civil war had erupted. led to the displacement of the rural population to the cities..
He stressed that the Palestinians were suffering from Israeli aggression on their groundwater, which went against international law and that a joint meeting would be held this year to allow Arab ministers to Water and agriculture formulate practical solutions to the crisis to prevent further deterioration in the future.
For her part, Ms. Nadia Makram Ebeid, Executive Director of the Organization for the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Arab Region, and "Cedari", welcomed the technological and scientific progress in the debate on the problems of water, especially the revolution of artificial intelligence, a new fabric of our lives. To be optimistic, especially as the use of artificial intelligence helps to badyze the water more efficiently, quickly and accurately, expressing the dream of taking advantage of every drop of water. wastewater treated with the extension of desalination of seawater.
She emphasized the importance of raising awareness of the importance of water in our lives and the need to preserve and rationalize it.
Mr. Murad Wahbi, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, explained that the average per capita water resources in the world is eight times higher than in the Arab world. Stressing the establishment of the Regional Climate Facility in partnership with the Arab League, the Arab Water Council and the United Nations Development Program.
Wahbi said that the civil war in Yemen had spread cholera in the country, due to the 19 million people who account for 80% of the population due to lack of clean water and sanitation, stating that the UN had allocated $ 300 million to set up 300 water recovery projects and increase its capacity to reach 70,000 cubic meters Provide drinking water to the population.
In the same context, Mr. Khalid Abu Zaid, Regional Director of Technical Programs of the Arab Water Council, estimated that the extent of urban exploration on agricultural land to about 188,000 hectares between 2012 and 2015 had resulted in a shortage of water that was feeding the underground water reservoir of about 12 billion cubic meters. Arab at 89 torrents and witnessed a desertification of 43 000 hectares during the same period.
Abu Zeid said the economic return from the use of cubic meters of water in agriculture rose to $ 1.16, while that of the agricultural sector reached $ 753, highlighting the import of agricultural products from Arab countries to about 288 dollars and agricultural exports to about 57 billion dollars. The volume of Arab food imports and the volume of their exports.
.
[ad_2]
Source link
