Forty experts from Arab countries’ ministries of water and foreign affairs gathered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for a three-day seminar to create co-operative water plans.

World Bank experts launched the meeting with data from a report that will be presented at the upcoming Copenhagen climate change forum, showing that Middle East water per capita is expected to decrease 50 percent by 2050, even without including the effects of climate change.

Senior water adviser at the World Bank David Grey pointed out that over 95% of the world’s population resides in nations where at least one water course is shared with other countries.

Affirming that this is true for some 70% of the Arab region’s waters, His Excellency Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi stated, “To avoid conflict, these resources and their distribution must be managed carefully to ensure the interests of the countries involved are protected.” 

Your Excellency and Arab water and foreign ministry water experts, we laud your cooperative efforts to share and conserve regional water resources. Wishing you fruitful success in finding solutions for the abundant benefit of all.

Reference
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091012/NATIONAL/710119855/1138