Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Water scarcity threatens region's immediate future, says Arab League head
Published in Daily News Egypt on 12 - 10 - 2009

CAIRO: Water scarcity in Arab countries is becoming more of a cause for concern as more people in the region face uncertain access to potable water as well as sanitation and sewage services.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said during a conference Monday, "This issue constitutes a threat to the near-term future of this region . we must work and cooperate to face this issue quickly.
Amat Al Aleem Ali Alsoswa, assistant secretary-general, assistant administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and director of its Regional Bureau for Arab States, said that much of the region fell short of international standards for water security.
Additionally, the projections for the future indicated that more people in the Arab world would be exposed to this lack of access to vital water facilities, she added.
According to UN and Arab League figures, 15 percent of people in the Arab world don't have access to potable water. In Yemen the percentage is 32 percent. Furthermore, 30 percent of the region's population doesn't have access to sewage and sanitation systems with the biggest ratio in Sudan, where 70 percent of the population doesn't have access to these services.
The international standard for water access requires 1,000 cubic meters per annum per person, anyone with access to less than that is considered "water insecure.
"Our region according to all reports is suffering from a sharp shortage in water access, the Arab citizen suffers from water poverty, Alsowsa said.
Discussions were held at the "Water and Development in the Arab Region: Challenges and Prospects, a two-day conference that kicked off at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo Monday.
According to UN statistics, there are 1.1 billion people in the developing world who don't have access to sufficient amounts of water and 2.6 billion people don't have access to sanitation and sewage services.
Moussa said the Arab League would contact the World Bank and other organizations to organize a global conference to tackle the issue of water scarcity, especially in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
Moussa also said that the case of the Palestinian territories was included in the league's consideration of water scarcity, and added that numerous reports had mentioned that Israel was seizing much of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip's water supply.
"The seizure of this water is without respect for international laws and conventions, he said and refused to be drawn in on whether the Arab League would consider talks with Israeli officials to discuss water security.


Clic here to read the story from its source.