Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sweilam has said the Egyptian state, represented by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, carried out many mega national projects to improve the quality of water and rationalize its use through the establishment of giant water treatment plants.

In a speech on Sunday at Al Qanatir Al Khayriyyah on the occasion of World Water Day, the minister said that Egypt is one countries that suffer badly from water scarcity as it depends on 97 percent of the Nile River water.

He said that Egypt takes serious steps to face water challenges as per capita water share reaches about 500 cubic meters annually while the United Nations put water poverty at 1,000 cubic meters annually.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador in Cairo Christian Berger described Egypt as Gift of the Nile, pointing out to the unprecedented threats because of scarcity of water and water pollution.

He said the EU works with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and other partners to secure water resources to Egypt.

Berger revealed that a high-level meeting will be organized in May to be attended by the Egyptian government and the EU to discuss water and food security issues.

Source: State Information Service Egypt