ESCWA held a press conference on Tuesday 2 March to officially mark Arab Water Day for the first time this year under the theme "For Joint Arab Water Security".
The conference, held under the auspices of Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Jibran Bassil, was presented by Miss Lebanon 2009 Martine Andraos who reiterated that she adopted the issues of sustainable water resources as a priority issues on her work program.
Speaking on behalf of ESCWA Executive Secretary Bader AlDafa, Chief of Sustainable Development and Productivity Division Anhar Hegazi announced the decision by the Council of Arab Ministers for Water issues to consider 3 March of every year as Arab Water Day.
Hegazi referred to climate change issues that pose a serious threat to Arab water security. She said scientific expectations revealed that climate change will have a dire effect on the quality and quantity of water resources. This will lead to a reduction in water resources and an increase in spells of drought in several areas of the region that will in turn cause a plunge in the agricultural productivity.
Hegazi said that ESCWA gives special attention to water issues, particularly in view of their direct connection with achieving Arab joint water security. In addition to devising studies and researches on water resources, Hegazi noted that the Commission is strengthening the capacity of member countries on the means of negotiation around joint water resources, in cooperation with The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Germany.
