Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, led the 2025 World Water Day celebration on Saturday evening, organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in collaboration with the European Union Delegation in Egypt. The event was centered around the theme "Preserving Glaciers," drawing attention to the vital role glaciers play in maintaining global water supplies. The celebration was attended by several key ministers, including the Ministers of Justice, Endowments, and Education, as well as the Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt and representatives from the armed forces and the Sustainable Development Agency. During the event, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation signed two cooperation protocols with the Ministries of Endowments and Education to further raise awareness about water conservation. The first protocol will see the Ministry of Endowments provide educational materials through Friday sermons and various public activities. The second protocol focuses on organizing awareness seminars, school trips to water infrastructure sites, and broadcasting educational films on water issues to better inform the younger generation. In his opening speech, Minister Sewilam praised the ongoing collaboration with the EU in tackling water-related challenges. He stressed the Egyptian government's commitment to the protection and sustainable management of water resources. Sewilam introduced the "Second Generation of the Egyptian Irrigation System 2.0," which utilizes modern technologies in water treatment, desalination, digital transformation, and smart water management. The Minister highlighted that Egypt's annual water requirements total 114 billion cubic meters, while its current water resources amount to only 60 billion cubic meters. As a result, the country is compelled to reuse water and rely on imports to meet the deficit. Sewilam pointed to significant national initiatives, such as the "New Delta," "Bahr Al-Baqar," and "Al-Mahsama" water treatment plants, which collectively have a capacity of 4.8 billion cubic meters annually. Sewilam also emphasized Egypt's leadership role in the global water protection movement, citing the country's active participation in international forums, including the United Nations, and its efforts to launch the AWARe initiative to help African nations adapt to climate change. Minister of Endowments, Osama Al-Azhari, underscored the urgent need to rationalize water consumption, warning that the world is entering an "era of water scarcity." Minister of Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, highlighted the role of education in fostering water awareness, advocating for the integration of water and climate topics into national school curricula. Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Egypt in addressing its water challenges. She stressed the importance of promoting innovative solutions that ensure the sustainability of water resources for future generations.
