المنتدى العربي للمياه: نصف موارد العالم العربي المائية من خارجه

ناقش المنتدى العربي للمياه، التحديات المائية العربية في عدد من الجلسات المغلقة التي تناولت العديد من المشكلات المائية التي تمثل تحديات للدول العربية، منها إمكانية استخدام المياه المالحة بعد معالجتها لاستخدامها بالزراعة في تحقيق الأمن الغذائي لشعوب الوطن العربي، وذلك في ظل ندرة المياه التي تعانى منها المنطقة العربية. 

وأشارت التقارير التي تمت مناقشتها أن تزايد الطلب على المياه وزيادة عدد السكان ومتطلبات مياه الزراعة والشرب تعد مشكلة خطيرة بالعديد من الدول العربية، خاصة أن الأمر لا يقتصر فقط على كمية الموارد المائية المتاحة على طبيعتها، حيث إن أكثر من نصف مواردنا المائية السطحية تأتى من خارج حدود العالم العربي، كما أن معظم مواد المياه الجوفية بالعالم العربي غير متجددة مما يزيد من خطورة الموقف وما تمر به حاليا العديد من الدول العربية، والتي يضاف إليها مشكلة ندرة المياه في هذا الجزء من العالم. كما ناقشت الجلسات دور المجتمع المدني ووسائل الإعلام التوعية بإجراءات التكيف مع الآثار السلبية للتغيرات المناخية على مصادر

 المياه العذبة والسواحل العربية وبشكل خاص منطقة الدلتا، وكذلك الإجراءات التي قامت بها الحكومات العربية لمواجهة الآثار السلبية لهذه الظاهرة علاوة على حلقة نقاشية حول أهداف الألفية الثالثة التي دعت إليها الأمم المتحدة، والتي تنتهي منها المرحلة الأولى العام القادم وخاصة بخفض نسبة المحرومين من مياه الشرب وخدمات الصرف بنسبة 50% من الدول النامية من بينها الدول العربية، علاوة على ربط مفهوم أخلاقيات المياه مع مفهوم إدارة المياه من خلال المبادرة الإقليمية لمواجهة ندرة المياه، وإدماج تكنولوجيا الاستشعار عن بعد بإدارة منظومة المياه، لمواجهة زيادة الطلب عليها بالمنطقة العربية، وكذلك الإدارة الرشيدة للمياه الجوفية بما يضمن استدامة هذا المورد وضمان حق الأجيال القادمة فيه.

محمود أبوزيد يفتتح المنتدى العربي الثالث للمياه الثلاثاء

يفتتح الدكتور محمود أبوزيد، رئيس المجلس العربي للمياه، الثلاثاء المقبل، المنتدي العربي الثالث للمياه، والذي يستمرة لمدة 3 أيام، لبحث مستقبل المياه العربية، وتنمية مهارات الدبلوماسية المائية.

ويشارك في المنتدى، عدد من الوزراء، ورئيس وزراء الأردن السابق والرئيس الشرفي للمجلس، الأمير خالد بن سلطان، وعدد من الخبراء المعنيين بالمياه.

وقال الدكتور محمود أبوزيد، رئيس المجلس العربي للمياه، في تصريحات صحفية، إن المنتدى العربي يناقش مستقبل المياه العربية، والأوضاع المائية العربية محليًا وعالميًا، وآليات مواجهة التحديات التي تواجه المنطقة لضمان استدامة الموارد المائية، موضحًا أن الموضوع الرئيسي للمنتدي يركز علي تحديث المعلومات حول الموارد المائية المشتركة في الدول العربية مثل نهري النيل والفرات وآليات الحلول المناسبة لفض النزاع حول المياه المشتركة.

ولفت «أبوزيد» إلي أهمية تنمية مهارات الدبلوماسية المائية لضمان نجاح التفاوض حول المياه المشتركة في المنطقة العربية، موضحًا أن 60% من موارد المياه العربية مشتركة مع أكثر من دولة، مما قد يكون أحد مسببات النزاع بين الدول، وهو ما جعل الدبلوماسية المائية من أهم الوسائل للتفاوض لايجاد الحلول السلمية.

وأضاف رئيس المجلس أنه سيتم عرض مختلف النماذج للآثار السلبية للتغيرات المناخية والتكيف معها في المجال الزراعي، ومناقشة الاستفادة من تكنولوجيا الفضاء والاستشعار عن بعد في إدارة المياه العربية.

وأشار إلى أن مشروع الإدارة المتكاملة لخزان النوبة الجوفي، يشكل أهمية كبرى للتعاون بين مصر والسودان وليبيا وتشاد، لتحقيق التنمية المستدامة للدول الأربعة واهمية ارتباط المياه بالطاقة والغذاء في رسم السياسات وتخطيط المشروعات.

وشدد «أبوزيد» على أهمية إعادة استخدام مياه الصرف الزراعي والصحي المعالجة، لمواجهة تزايد الطلب على المياه، وتأكيد دور المرأة في تحقيق الإدارة المتكاملة للموارد المائية في المناطق الريفية.

Water Project Launched Amid Dire Shortages

About once every two weeks, Yusof Ali Al-Sayed, a resident living on Al-Dairy Street in the capital, receives water from the government. The supply only lasts him, his wife, and their eight children five to seven days.

The water is supplied via pipes to water tanks inside residents’ homes, and citizens pay according to the amount of water they receive. Two years ago, the Ministry of Water and Environment supplied water at least once a week, and sometimes as often as twice a week.

One problem for the shortage now, according to Tawfeeq Al-Sharjabi, the deputy minister of the Water and Environment Ministry, is that the ministry has insufficient funds.

“Over the past three years, resident have begun to evade paying money for the water they consumed. This caused the ministry to fall short when performing its duties,” he said.

He continued, “another reason behind the irregular supply of water is power outages, as we need power to get the water from deep wells and pump it to homes.”

The biggest problem, however, is that the country is running out of water.

“Sana’a Basin is suffering from water scarcity, meanwhile we’re digging down wells upwards of 800 meters to get access to groundwater,” Al-Sharjabi explained.

Yemenis living in main cities around the country are complaining of irregular water supply to their homes, sometimes for a two-week period or longer. They resort to getting water from privately-owned water trucks, the owners of which get water from locals who have dug artesian wells, or aquifers, both inside and outside the capital.

Anwar Bahram, the owner of an artesian well in the Shumaila area of Sana'a, told the Yemen Times “more people have begun to dig wells and sell water because it’s good business; many residents depend on this water.”

“We resort to using water trucks and pay YR6,000 [$28] each week,” said Al-Sayed, referring to deliveries by large-sized water trucks. “The government should take actions to solve the water problem because we face difficulty in getting water,” he added.

According to Fuad Al-Hadi, the owner of a water truck in Sana’a, “[the content of] small water trucks is sold for YR2,000 [$9.3], mid-sized ones cost YR3,500 [$16], and the water delivered by large ones is sold for YR6,000 [$28].”

Al-Hadi himself fills a small tank for YR700 ($3), a medium tank for YR1,300 ($6), and a large one for YR2,500 ($12).

While the irregular water supply is good business for water truck owners, it does place a burden on private citizens.

Khaled Ahmed Mohammed, a 38-year-old resident from Taiz governorate who lives in the Tahrir area of Sana'a, explained to the Yemen Times that the water provided by the government is cheaper than that from water trucks.

“I get 1,000 liters of water for YR3,500 [$16.29] from water trucks while I get the same quantity for YR1,000 [$4.7] from the government. The water trucks’ owners tell us that they have to pay for diesel to transport the water to our homes in their trucks,” he said.

Digging deeper for water
Selling water has become an increasingly lucrative business nowadays, and not only for water truck owners.

According to Bahram, to get permission to drill a well, one must get a license from the local council.

However, Khalid Al-Kuhlani, a member of the local council in Al-Wahda district of Sana’a city, said licenses are provided by the Water and Sanitation Foundation, within the Water and Environment Ministry.

The Yemen Times tried repeatedly to contact the foundation, but received no reply.

In addition to digging wells for the purpose of selling water, farmers also dig wells to get water for their crops.

Yahya Al-Salami, a farmer in Sana’a who is originally from Dhamar governorate, said that farmers dig wells haphazardly without getting any licenses.

“We used to excavate 100-meter artisan wells in the past, but now people dig down up to 1,000 meters until they find water because the underground water has decreased greatly,” he explained.

Although the levels of underground water has decreased, farmers continue to dig more wells, according to Al-Salami.

A 2013 report by the National Water Resources Authority, a body within the Ministry of Water and Environment, indicated that there are about 750 drillers currently operating in Yemen.

Moneer Qarhash, the head of the Information Bank at the authority, told the Yemen Times this number includes both legal and illegal drillers, but adds that “most of these drillers are illegal.”

Government response: What are the consequences of illegal drilling?
Experts have warned several times of the water crisis in Yemen, saying that Yemen may run out of water due to the depletion of underground water, according to Mohammed Al-Ariqi, a water expert and journalist in the state-run Al-Thawra newspaper, who has been reporting extensively on the issue.

“Water shortages are an alarming problem in Yemen, meanwhile demand is increasing due to population growth and the unregulated drilling of wells,” he said.

Farmers continue to dig wells and use ancient methods of irrigation such as flood irrigation which consumes a lot of water, according to Al-Ariqi.

“The Taiz Basin has dried up and the Sana’a Basin is about to run out of water because of the random drilling of wells to a great depth,” he added.

The Yemen Water Strategy, an initiative by the National Water Resources Authority established in January 2014, predicts that the continued extraction of underground water will force residents of rural areas, who subsist mainly on agriculture, to move cities because of water scarcity.

Ali Al-Surimi, Chairman of the National Water Resources Authority, told the Yemen Times that, “many people drill wells illegally in all governorates.” Regarding the punishment for those who drill wells illegally, Al-Surimi said that, “a committee from the authority visits the scene and prepares an incident report, and then informs the Public Prosecutor.” He admitted however, that these cases rarely ever go anywhere. “These days, the government is busy dealing with the security situation. Nothing gets done.”

Sana’a Basin Project
The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Yemen, collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Ministry of Water and Environment, and the Dutch embassy in Sana’a, held a workshop on Nov. 10 to launch the Sana’a Basin Project.

According to a press release distributed at the event, “the Sana’a Basin Project is a three-year program aiming to raise awareness on water scarcity at the local community level in order to motivate farmers to decrease groundwater extractions.”

In order to reduce the level of groundwater extracted, the project plans to use innovative irrigation techniques, water harvesting and storage, and also to encourage the use of alternative crops which can provide similar or even higher income to farmers while using less water.

The budget for the Sana’a Basin Project is $5 million, provided by the Netherlands, according to Dr. Ahmed Al-Wadaey, national consultant for water resources management at the FAO’s Yemen branch.

At the event, Fareed Mujawar, the minister of agriculture and irrigation, said “among the reasons behind water depletion in the Sana’a Basin is population growth, which increases seven percent each year, and the low level of annual rainfall.”

“Despite all water laws that prohibit illegal drilling for groundwater wells, violations are still being committed in the Sana'a Basin, whose total area is roughly 3,250 km squared, through the illegal and drilling of wells,” Hassan said.

Most basins in Yemen are facing excessive extraction of water, estimated at 138 percent of annual renewable water, which is estimated at 2.1 billion cubic meters, according to Hassan.

Farmers associations and local councils will be involved in the project to work together to mitigate extractions of groundwater, according to the FAO.

By the end of the month “local communities will be organized into associations to deal with the challenges of land and water resources in the Sana’a Basin. The project will support communities in setting up associations which prove to be viable in the future, which will become the drivers of change towards a more sustainable use of the natural resources,” the release reads.

“Local councils in the country’s districts and in the Sana’a governorate will be closely involved through the existing Sana’a Basin Committee and the Regional Water Committees and will guide and support the decentralized strategy for water resources management,” it said.

A project similar to the Sana’a Basin project is currently being planned by the FAO and its local partners for the Tehama Basin in early 2015.

Lebanon's water resources in great danger: environment minister

The future of Lebanon’s water sources is bleak with the drought season expected to increase and rainfall to decrease due to climate change, Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk said Thursday.

“Climate change, as everyone knows, has become a major threat to Lebanon's water resources as well as the communities and sectors which are all struggling to cope with the negative consequences,” Machnouk said during the opening of a ministry-sponsored workshop titled: "Water and climate change: understating the meaning and funding projects.”

“Although Lebanon's emissions of carbon dioxide constitute a small portion of the total global emissions, the country is greatly suffering from consequences of climate change on its economy, society, and stability.”

“Such repercussions will only get worse with the increasing water scarcity. It is expected that rainfall will decrease by 45 percent by the year 2090 and that Lebanon will go through an additional 18 days of drought.”

Lebanon is approaching the annual rainy season, badly needed as the country reels under a severe water crisis, the worst in 10 years.

Machnouk said the ministry had adopted several projects to assist the country to adapt to climate change including the implementation of a pilot project to collect rainwater from the roofs of greenhouses and store it to ensure water availability for irrigation during droughts.

Moreover, the ministry is planning on educating farmers on means to preserve rainwater as well as to launch studies about the effect of climate change on water resources.

He also said that the ministry continued to release studies evaluating the environmental impact of water-related projects.

Initiatives to tackle global water scarcity unveiled to WIEF 2014

The global scarcity of water and how this vital challenge can be addressed was discussed during a captivating session led by Saran Kaba Jones, Founder and CEO of FACE Africa, a community development organisation working to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene, and Michael W Pritchard MBE, Founder and Inventor of the LIFESAVER® system, an innovative, low-cost technology which provides safe drinking water at point of use.

With over one billion people worldwide, including 350 million in Africa, suffering from a lack of access to a safe water supply, the ability to resolve this situation is a priority for governments, charities and the private sector around the world. Over 2 million people die from waterborne diseases every year, the majority of whom are children under the age of five. Meanwhile, in some African countries, women can spend as much as 60% of their day travelling to collect safe drinking water. This leads to a loss of productivity economically and can hinder a countries development.

However, technologies and solutions to the water scarcity challenge are available and the emphasis is now on ensuring they are transported those regions which need them most through the effective use of resources and efficient use of funding. One such technology, which was demonstrated live to the astounded audience during the session, is the LIFESAVER® bottle. Developed by Michael Pritchard after he witnessed the devastating aftereffects from the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the LIFESAVER® system allows even the most putrid of water to be made safe and drinkable, allowing people to be lifted out of water poverty and saved after a natural disaster.

Saran Kaba Jones, Founder and CEO of FACE Africa, said: "The lack of access to safe drinking water, which affects over one billion people globally, is one of the most severe challenges facing the world today. Although this crisis is serious, it is solvable through the implementation of social, low-cost household solutions in the communities that need it most. Which technology is used depends on the individual community needs, however, it remains important that the solutions deployed are inclusive, ethical and economically viable".

Michael W Pritchard MBE, Founder and Inventor of LIFESAVER®, added: "Everyone deserves safe drinking water. What we have pioneered at LIFESAVER® are a range of low-cost products that can filter and clean water making it safe to drink. This technology is already being used in key regions around the globe and for a range of different uses. We have helped hundreds of thousands of people produce safe, sterile drinking water, and, as we continue to grow and expand our reach to those in need, will continue to change lives around the world".

Since 2010, FACE Africa has implemented a host of water, sanitation and hygiene projects in rural Liberia that have benefited over 10,000 people. Through its projects, the time spent collecting and transporting water, which amounts to over 200,000 hours every year, is now spent on income generating activities, housework or childcare.

In 2013, Saran was also named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader along with 198 young leaders from 70 countries. Young Global Leaders are honored by the World Economic Forum for their professional accomplishments and commitment to society.

Michael has recently been appointed a Member of the British Empire as part of the Queen's Birthday Honors List. Michael's award is in recognition of his innovative drive to tackle water poverty.

For more information, visit the 10th WIEF website: www.10thwief.org

Dubai's ruler launches National Innovation Strategy

The U.A.E. will become one of the most innovative countries in the world through a focus on seven sectors: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space

Dubai, 19th October, 2014 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, launched a National Innovation Strategy today that aims to make the U.A.E. among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years.

The strategy will stimulate innovation in seven sectors where innovation is key to excellence: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. Its first phase includes 30 national initiatives to be completed within three years. These include new legislation, innovation incubators, investment in specialised skills, private-sector incentives, international research partnerships, and an innovation drive within government.

"The UAE is already the most innovative Arab nation. Our target is to be among the most innovative nations in the world.The competitiveness race demands a constant flow of new ideas, as well as innovative leadership using different methods and tools to direct the change," HH Sheikh Mohammed said at the launch of the strategy.

"This innovation strategy is a national priority for our programme of development and progress. It is a primary tool to achieve Vision 2021 and an engine for the growth of distinctive skills and capabilities across the nation. We have always called for creativity in every field: this strategy is a concrete step to implement that vision. These initiatives around innovation will enhance quality of life in the UAE and take our economy to new horizons," HH Sheikh Mohammed added.

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs were present at the launch ceremony.

The strategy works along 4 parallel tracks.

The first track will anchor a stimulating environment for innovation in the form of supportive institutions and laws. It will shape specialised entities such as innovation incubators as well as technological infrastructure to fuel innovation in all sectors. It will also focus on research and development in various innovation fields.

The second track will develop government innovation by institutionalising innovative practices with the support of an integrated system of modern tools. The strategy requires all government entities to reduce spending by 1% and to dedicate the savings to research and innovation projects. National training and education programmes on innovation will also be launched.

The third track will encourage private sector innovation by stimulating companies to establish innovation and scientific research centres, to adopt new technologies, and to develop innovative products and services. The U.A.E. will attract pioneering international firms in key innovation sectors, establish innovation communities and zones, and support applied research in areas of national priority. It will also enhance the UAE?s position as an international centre to test new innovations.

The fourth track will qualify individuals with highly innovative skills by concentrating on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including the creation of educational material for schools and universities. The aim is to establish a national culture that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship through partnerships between the public, private and media sectors.

"Innovation today is driven by effective institutions, strong policies, specialised skills, and an economy where all sectors work together to discover new ways to conduct business. A flexible and creative economy based on a national culture of innovation is the fastest and most sustainable way to reinforce the U.A.E.?s competitiveness on a global level," HH Sheikh Mohammed said.

Current annual investment in innovation is worth AED 14 billion in the U.A.E., of which AED 7 billion goes to research and development. Innovation spending will rise significantly in the years to come.

The National Innovation Strategy includes 16 indicators to measure progress. Government-sector indicators include the percentage of innovative ideas and the proportion of budget allocated to innovation. Private-sector indicators include R&D investment and the knowledge profile of the workforce. Global indicators include an overall measure comparing countries? innovation capabilities, as well as indicators for the protection of intellectual property, the creation of patents and the availability of scientists and engineers.

The strategy contains practical initiatives in each of its seven priority sectors.

In the field of renewable energy, the strategy will establish a new organisation to facilitate decentralised power generation projects such as small-scale solar installations. The strategy will also encourage innovation in the renewables industry while also supporting applied research in clean technology.

In transportation, the strategy will stimulate innovation in air and sea travel as well as logistics. The aim is to provide new products and services, make procedures more effective, and save time. The strategy will also focus on innovation in the field of unmanned drones.

In education, the strategy will establish innovation labs in schools and universities as part of a drive to equip students with targeted skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, perseverance and adaptability.

In health, the strategy will promote advanced technologies in healthcare services. It will stimulate the growth of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries while also working with strategic partners to support medical research.

On the topic of water, the strategy will seek innovative solutions to the challenge of water scarcity.

Finally, the strategy will support space technology for the purpose of exploration as well as satellite communicationsand specialised research on terrestrial applications.

Egypt faces threat to harvest from water shortage

A MAJOR shortage of water is threatening Egypt’s annual harvest, officials in Cairo have warned.

For the past 15 years, antiquated irrigation systems and a government conservation drive have kept many farmers from nutrient-rich River Nile waters, forcing them to tap sewage-filled canals.

In the north-west corner of the Nile Delta, Ibrahim Sharaf Al-Dein fires up his pump next to a murky canal only to watch it spew out a yellowish froth.

“This water ruins our pumps – it’s bad for our production,” the 50-year-old said.

But even as Egypt wrestles with dwindling water from its only major source, the Nile, it pushes farmers to grow more to supply the country’s costly subsidised food programme. The two goals, farmers and experts say, are at odds with one another. And efforts to make the most of precious farmland have been hampered by decades of urban sprawl.

The government, anxious to stimulate economic recovery after years of political turmoil, wants to cut its $4.5 billion (£2.7bn) food import bill.

Most of that bill goes to subsidies that guarantee universal access to bread at less than one US cent (0.05 Egyptian pounds) for a loaf.

That makes Egypt the world’s top wheat importer, purchasing around 10 million tonnes a year.

“Import dependence will get worse,” said Nicholas Lodge, of Clarity, a Gulf-based agricultural investment firm.

“You have population growth outstripping the ability of the agricultural sector to improve production, which is held back by land and water shortages.”

Egypt grows a large amount, including 7m tonnes of wheat a year, say traders, largely because Cairo offers farmers above-market prices to spur production.

Subsidised bread encourages Egyptians to consume more wheat per person than almost any other country, and demand is set to increase as the 87m population grows. There have been estimations of a population growth at 1.6m people a year.

Farms soak up 85 per cent of Egypt’s water, above global averages, says think-tank the World Water Council (WWC).

While improving yields and allocating more land to farmers could boost production, those measures will not keep up with growing demand, said Gamal Siam, an agricultural economist at Cairo University.

The Nile Valley, almost the only arable land, makes up 5 per cent of Egypt’s area but is home to 95 per cent of its people.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet key ministers tomorrow to flesh out plans to reclaim about one billion hectares of desert land for farming.

Mr Siam said the “unrealistic” plan would need 80 billion cubic metres of water a year, more than all Egypt’s Nile waters.

More modest reclamation plans in Egypt have been stalled for years due to lack of water. Experts say solutions include overhauling irrigation systems or growing more profitable crops, fruits, which need little water.

Water watchers warn that global food security is threatened by water scarcity.

“Egypt depends on one source of water, the Nile, which is shared by 11 countries,” Benedito Braga, president of the WWC, said, “So from a strategic point of view the Nile is something of a national security issue.”

Yemen tackles water scarcity issues

Yemen is set to build its first desalination plant to address its water scarcity issues, among the most severe in the region, said Minister of Water and Environment Abdulsalam Razzaz.

The new $300 million plant will desalinate water and generate electricity, he told Al-Shorfa.

Razzaz spoke with Al-Shorfa about how Yemen is addressing its water shortage issue and other projects it hopes to tackle in this arena.

Al-Shorfa: What is the true scope of the water situation in Yemen?

Abdulsalam Razzaz: Yemen is a semi-arid country, the one with the most severe water shortages in the Arab region for several reasons: a large population, increasing population growth rates and limited rainfall -- even though it is an agricultural country -- which has exacerbated this serious issue.

The precarious water situation in Yemen can be better appreciated when you consider it is the only country in the world that uses groundwater for agriculture, industry and for drinking.

Around 90% of groundwater is used in agriculture as well as in traditional irrigation, resulting in a dramatic waste of water resources.

For this reason, Yemen has no other solution but to resort to sea water desalination. This is an option we cannot rule out. We will [soon] sign an agreement with the Saudi Fund for Developmentto finance the first desalination plant with $300 million to provide water for Taiz and Ibb provinces and then Aden and Lahij. As for Sanaa, it also is in line for desalination in the next decade.

Al-Shorfa: Will Yemenis be able to afford the cost of desalinated water?

Razzaz: We are betting on the technology and its continual advancement in bringing water to consumers from the desalination plant. In addition, the Taiz and Ibb plants will generate power as well as desalinate water, so the Ministry of Electricity and Energy will foot the bill for transporting the water. This will help provide this service to people at affordable prices. The plant will use the energy it needs to transport the water and the rest will be sold to the state.

Over the past two years, we have been working with the World Bank to finalise the procedures involved in securing funding to build this plant, because it is the only available solution.

Al-Shorfa: What about qat cultivation and its effect on the water situation in Yemen?

Razzaz: Qat cultivation poses a threat to the water and environmental situation, which is evident given the amounts of water used in [its] cultivation. For example, growing qat consumes 60% of groundwater from the Sanaa Basin. Growing qat also causes some environmental damages, as pesticides that do not comply with recognised standards are used, thus polluting the soil, the environment, groundwater and agricultural products posing a health and economic threat to society.

Annual groundwater consumption is at 3.5 billion cubic metres while only 2 billion cubic metres of water are being replaced, which means a deficit of 1.5 billion cubic metres. This has impacted the water allowance for each individual on an annual basis, making Yemenis the lowest per capita consumers of water in the world.

Al-Shorfa: Will Sanaa be able to survive for a decade in light of high consumption with annual rainfall dwindling?

Razzaz: We conducted a study on supplying the Sanaa Basin from the nearby eastern, southern and western areas and we found that groundwater wells in Bani Matar to the west of Sanaa, Hizaiz south of Sanaa and Khawlan east of Sanaa have not yet been tapped – the drilling went only as far as utilising surface wells. These wells will allow Sanaa to survive for another 30 years. After that, we can build a desalination plant for the capital and by then, technological advances will have brought down the cost of building such plants.

Al-Shorfa: What other health and environmental projects are under way?

Razzaz: The ministry is implementing many water sanitation projects in Yemeni provinces including Sanaa, Taiz, Hadramaut, Shabwa and al-Mahra, among others. We have signed contracts with investors that are worth $270 million, with $54 million of that going to the capital.

There also are environmental projects whose goal is to resist climate change. We have tried to obtain funding from donors and succeeded in securing $70 million to support and preserve natural reserves, including the island of Socotra, Buraa Reserve and other natural reserves. Around 80% of these efforts will be funded through loans and grants from donors, and the Ministry of Finance will cover the remaining 20%.

Al-Shorfa: What obstacles does the ministry face in performing its tasks?

Razzaz: There are financial obstacles. Our ministry is only allocated 20 billion Yemeni riyals ($93 million) from the Ministry of Finance per annum, constituting only 1% of the state budget […]. The workforce also is in need of rehabilitation, training and capacity building.