رئيس الوزراء يشارك في فعاليات الجلسة الافتتاحية لأسبوع القاهرة السابع للمياه وأسبوع المياه الأفريقي التاسع
Madbouly: Egypt believes in the importance of a cooperative approach and the necessity of implementing the principles of international law based on achieving optimal use of cross-border water resources
The Nile Basin Initiative, in its original consensual form upon which it was established, will remain the only comprehensive mechanism representing the entire Nile River Basin
There are risks resulting from individual and unilateral movements that do not adhere to the principles of international law on shared river basins, most notably the Ethiopian Dam
Unilateral and non-cooperative operation of the Ethiopian dam may lead to serious consequences if these practices continue in conjunction with periods of prolonged drought
The Egyptian state is striving to implement a comprehensive national plan that addresses issues related to water, energy, food and the environment with the aim of improving the management of water resources
The occupation in the Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip prevents access to water, energy and food as a tool of pressure and control and as a means of war
The war that has been going on in Sudan for more than a year and a half has exacerbated the suffering of citizens, which has caused unprecedented human suffering due to the difficulty of providing water
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, participated this morning in the opening session of the activities of both the “Seventh Cairo Water Week” and the “Ninth African Water Week,” held under the patronage of “President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.” In the presence of a large number of government ministers, in addition to a number of African ministers, the President of the World Water Council, a number of countries’ ambassadors, and a group of high-level officials representing: the European Union, the African Union, the Council of African Ministers of Water (AMCO), and the " FAO, and the African Development Bank.
The Prime Minister was received by Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
During the opening session The Prime Minister delivered a speech, which he began by expressing his happiness for his participation in this very important event, and welcoming the ministers, ambassadors and officials to the seventh Cairo Water Week, which carries the slogan “Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities,” which coincides with “ The Ninth African Water Week, under the generous patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly began his speech by affirming that access to clean water and sanitation services is a right. A fundamental human right, which drives us to the need to adopt strategies based on increased investment and capacity building, encouraging innovation and evidence-based action, enhancing coordination and cooperation between all sectors and stakeholders, and adopting a more integrated and comprehensive approach to water management, including the cross-border context.
In this context, the Prime Minister said that water and climate change are closely linked. Climate change affects water in complex and complex ways, whether it is related to the impact on unexpected rainfall patterns or sea level rise. Climate change also exacerbates water scarcity and the risks related to extreme weather phenomena, such as: floods and drought, and makes them more Frequent and intense, in addition to the disruption of rainfall patterns and the water cycle.
The Prime Minister added: All of these effects lead to many economic and social repercussions on our societies. An estimated 391 million people faced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2019, and this number has increased alarmingly to reach 2.4 billion people in 2022, according to United Nations reports.
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In the same context, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly explained that the World Meteorological Organization’s emergency events database showed that 1,695 disasters recorded on the African continent from 1970 to 2019 caused more than 731,000 deaths and economic losses estimated at 38.5 million. One billion US dollars.
The Prime Minister continued to clarify this point, saying: Although Africa contributes only 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is Among the regions most vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change, Africa accounts for 15% of weather, climate and water-related disasters, and 35% of associated deaths. Although flood-related disasters were the most prevalent (60%), drought led to the greatest A number of deaths, as the cause of death was 95% of the total lives lost in the region.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly continued his speech by pointing out that with the increase of long-term wars, Access to water is one of the most prominent humanitarian challenges. In the occupied Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip, the occupation works to prevent access to water, energy and food as a tool of pressure and control and as a means of war. The war reduced the water supply in Gaza by more than 95%, forcing residents to use unsafe water and sanitation facilities, which led to the forced displacement of the population in violation of the principles of international humanitarian law.
Dr. Madbouly added: The war also disrupted agriculture and food production in the occupied Palestinian territories, resulting in food insecurity. As 2.3 million people face the increasing risk of hunger, and in the sisterly Republic of Sudan, the majority of Sudanese villages and towns have lost access to clean water, as the war that has been going on in Sudan for more than a year and a half has exacerbated the suffering of citizens, which has caused unprecedented human suffering due to the difficulty Water provision and scarcity of pure drinking water. At the same time, climate change and torrential floods have caused the crisis to become more severe. The city of Port Sudan faced a severe drinking water crisis after the collapse of the Arbaat Dam, which represents the largest source supplying it with clean water. After the water dries up, the city – which is already suffering from a drinking water crisis – will witness a real disaster, especially in light of the presence of thousands of displaced people and high population overcrowding in the city. The region.
The Prime Minister said: I take this opportunity to reaffirm Egypt’s firm position towards supporting the security, stability and unity of the sister Republic of Sudan, and that Egypt does not hesitate to support the brotherly Sudan to confront… The repercussions of the war.
During his speech, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly pointed out that Egypt is the best example of countries that suffer from these complex challenges resulting from climate change and water scarcity. Since Egypt is the country of the lower estuary of the Nile River, it is not only affected by the climate changes taking place within its borders, but is also affected by various changes across the rest of the Nile Basin countries.
In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that if Egypt has always affirmed its support for sustainable development efforts in the Nile Basin countries and meeting the aspirations of its people for a better tomorrow, then Egypt believes in the importance of a cooperative approach and the necessity of implementing the principles of international law based on achieving the optimal use of transboundary water resources at In a way that avoids causing harm to other countries and societies, and preserves their vital interests and basic rights.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, warned that riparian countries face increasing challenges in the field of Cooperation on transboundary water basins, pointing out that these challenges require us to think seriously about how to enhance cooperation and coordination between countries to achieve effective and sustainable management of these vital resources, adding: Water is not just a natural resource, but rather represents an essential element for life and development, so cooperation Between riparian countries is a vital step to ensure the sustainability of these basins, and we must work together to exchange knowledge and experiences, and develop effective strategies that guarantee the rights of all parties and help confront common challenges.
And through The Prime Minister stated that the existence of effective cross-border water cooperation is an indispensable existential matter for Egypt, which requires taking into account that joint water management be at the “basin” level. As an integrated unit, including the integrated management of blue and green waters, this also requires taking into account non-selective adherence to applicable principles of international law, especially the principle of cooperation and consultation based on comprehensive technical studies, which is an indispensable necessity to ensure the equitable use of the common resource and avoid… Harm as much as possible.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said: Despite the increasing challenges that Egypt faces with regard to cooperation on transboundary waters, and its major role in enhancing cooperation with the Nile Basin countries, and contributing to the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative in 1999, and the significant financial, technical and political resources that Egypt has invested in In the first decade of its work, the Nile Basin Initiative, Egypt suspended its participation in the technical activities of the initiative due to the non-consensual decision taken by some countries to open the door for signature on the incomplete draft of the framework agreement, which violated the founding rule of decision-making by consensus, and approved a set of unconstitutional rules. consistent with the principles of international water law, which include clear procedures and mechanisms for consultation and prior notification before establishing projects, preserving vital human interests and needs and giving them priority among uses, in addition to the absence of clear obligations in the field of protecting and preserving the river environment, which constitutes a threat For Egyptian water security.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the Nile Basin Initiative in its original form – The consensus on which it was established will remain the only comprehensive mechanism representing the entire Nile River Basin; It was established by all the countries of the basin, and the legal rights and obligations arising from it must be preserved, and the various donors must support cooperation in the field of water in the Nile River Basin, in a way that enhances cooperation between all the countries of the basin, based on the principles of international law, and avoid supporting More measures or mechanisms that consolidate the division between the Basin countries.
The Prime Minister added: In this context, the dangers resulting from unilateral and unilateral movements that do not adhere to the principles of international law become clear. Shared river basins, most notably the Ethiopian Dam, which began construction more than 13 years ago on the Nile River, without any consultation or adequate studies related to safety or the economic, social and environmental impacts on neighboring countries, which is considered a violation of international law, including the signed Declaration of Principles Agreement. In 2015, and contradicts the Security Council statement issued in September 2021, as the continuation of these movements poses an existential threat to more than one hundred million Egyptian citizens.
At the same time, he explained Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said that despite the prevailing belief that hydroelectric dams do not pose harm, the unilateral and non-cooperative operation of the Ethiopian dam may lead to serious consequences, if these practices continue in conjunction with periods of prolonged drought, as more than one million and one hundred thousand people may lose their livelihoods. And the loss of approximately 15% of the agricultural area, pointing out that this represents a threat to increase social and economic tensions, and may lead to displacement and exacerbation of illegal immigration across the borders of the Egyptian state.
The Prime Minister also explained that in the face of these increasing challenges, the Egyptian state is striving, through cooperation between the relevant ministries, to implement a comprehensive national plan that addresses issues related to water, energy, food, and the environment. This ambitious plan aims to improve the management of water resources and promote rational use. And sustainable renewable water resources, which helps to deal effectively with the increasing pressures resulting from climate change and population growth, noting that about 10 billion dollars were invested during the past five years to enhance the efficiency of the water system in Egypt, and the policies adopted in water reuse contributed about 21%. One billion cubic meters of non-traditional water resources, which led to achieving a better water balance.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, concluded his speech by stressing that these efforts It emphasizes Egypt’s strategic vision in confronting water challenges and promoting sustainability, which contributes to achieving water, food and environmental security in the long term
للمزيد : تابع خليجيون 24 ، وللتواصل الاجتماعي تابعنا علي فيسبوك وتويتر
