WATER POVERTY AND POPULATION IN EGYPT Challenges and Strategies

Document Type : Scientific and technological

Author

Water Resources and Deserty Lands Specialist

Abstract

Egypt as a developing country faces the most serious challenge, which is how to make balance between population growth and water resources. The examination of current trends of population growth shows an annual increase of 2%. It means that Egypt has to feed an additional number of more than 1.4 million people every year so the expansion in cultivated land faces strict limits because it mostly depends on one source of water (NILERIVER). Annual water budget from NileRiver is 55.5 billion m3/ year.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Earth, with its diverse and abundant life forms, including over six billion humans, is facing a serious water crisis. All the signs suggest that it is getting worse and will continue to do so, unless corrective action is taken. This crisis is one of water governance, essentially caused by the ways in which we mismanage water. The water crisis is the one that lies at the heart of our survival and that of our planet Earth.
But the real tragedy is the effect it has on the everyday lives of poor people, who are blighted by the burden of water-related disease, living in degraded and often dangerous environments, struggling to get an education for their children and to earn a living, and to get enough to eat.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan identified WEHAB (Water and sanitation, Energy, Health, Agriculture, and Biodiversity) as integral to a coherent international approach to sustainable development. Water is essential to success in each of these focus areas. The WSSD also added the 2015 target of reducing by half the proportion of people without sanitation. 

Keywords

References

1-Abd Elaziz, M (2005), "Trends of Population Growth and Agricultural Food Production in Egypt". CDC monographs no.34, Cairo.
2-Abdul-Monsef, M (2005), "the water crisis in Africa/the challenges & the aspirations" (African Perspective magazine) vol.5. no:17.
3-Abdul Razik, A (2005) ‘‘Egypt’s Nile basin water strategy - A forward looking view” ‘‘(African Perspective magazine) vol.5. no:17.
4-Brzoska, Michael. "Securitization of Climate Change and the Power of Conceptions of Security" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Hilton San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, Mar 26, 2008 Online <PDF>.2008-05-19 http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p253887_index.html
5-Burgess, Stephen. "Environment and Human Security in the Horn of Africa "Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Hilton San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, Mar 26, 2008 Online <PDF>. 2008-05-19 http://www. allacademic.com/meta/p254571-index.html
6-CDC, (2003),"Egypt Population in the 20th Century,” Egypt.
7-Cieslik, Thomas. "International Water Regime: New Approaches for International Security Policy"  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, Town & Country Resort and Convention Center, San Diego, California, USA, Mar 22, 2006 Online <PDF>. 19-5-2008 http://www. allacademic.com/meta/p99133_index.html
8-Eckart Ehlers (2002), "Population Growth and Food Supply Margin in Egypt", Bonne, Germany.
9-Eoearth,2008: Water resources. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Water_resources
10-Hani, S (2005) ‘‘Nile basin initiative - An insight into Egypt’s position” ‘‘(African Perspective magazine) vol.5. no:17.
11-Hans Cathcart,2007.”Demands on Nile River Water and Egyptian National Security" by ICE Case Studies Number 203, May, 2007 http://www.american.edu/TED/class/virtual23.htm.
12-Hensel, Paul. and Brochmann, Marit.2008 "Armed Conflict over International Rivers" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association 48th Annual Convention, Hilton Chicago CHICAGO, IL, USA, Feb. 28, 2007 Online <APPLICATION/PDF>. 19-5-2008. http://www. Allacademic.com/meta/ p179142-index.html
13-Lester R. Brown (2006) “THE POPULATION-ENVIRONMENT NEXUS” Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble (2006: W.W. Norton & Co., NY).Water Conflicts-IPCI Conference- the Earth Policy Institute. http: //www. american. Edu / TED/class/virtual23.htm.
14-Marlin Hvidt, (2002), Water Resources Planning in Egypt, Odensay University, Denmark.
15-Mount Joy. A.B (1972), " Egypt Population and resources ", London.
16-Obrien, P, (1966),"The Revolution of Egypt Economic System". London, New York.
17-Ohlsson L. (2002): Water And Conflict. Unesco Encyclopaedia On Life Support Systems.
18-Rocizewski, M (1970)," Population Growth& Economic Development in Egypt," New York & London.
19-Savenije H. H. G. And Van Der Zaag P. 2002: Transboundary Water Resources Management. Unesco Encyclopaedia On Life Support Systems. Eolss,. Http://Greenplanet.Eolss.Net/Eolsslogn/ Loginform.Aspx
20-Weiss, Matthew. "Definition of the Situation and Resolution of Freshwater Conflicts" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Hilton San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, Mar 26, 2008 Online <PDF>. 19-5-2008 http:// www. allacademic .com/meta/p254464_index.html
21-Word press 2008: Egypt SDCA,: The Gift of the Nile Sustainable Development & Competitive Advantage Posted on June-- 17—2008 http://sdca.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/egypt-the-gift-of-the-nile.
22-Worz J.G.F (1967), “Co-operative Promotion of Production in Egypt'', Stuttgart.
23-Internet websites:
www.fao.org. Egypt: Country Report May 1995,WTO Agreement on Agriculture.
www.fao.org. Irrigation in Africa AQUASTAT Survey 2005, Nutration Country Profile - Egypt, August 2003, Information System on Water and Agriculture, 2005.
www.unesco.org/wwap. Setting the Scene -The World’s Water Crisis 2003.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics