Topic: Ensuring Access to Potable Water
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Heather Rose
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Egypt position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
We have a growing population like many other countries that needs resources to meet the needs of our people. Egypt relies on the Nile for our agricultural, industrial, and drinking water needs. Our share of the Nile is being violated by outside countries which breaks the 1959 Nile Water Sharing Agreement. We respect the right of upstream countries in creating development projects as long as they do not affect the quantity or quality of Nile Water available to the rest of the countries. This similar issue expands to other countries as we are not the only ones whose share of water is threatened.
There is a divide between rural and urban areas with the main countries in need of help being part of Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa. Each country is a unique case based upon what is available in terms of natural resources to those countries and the efficiency of its current program or facilities.
In Rural Areas, the dominant model for domestic water service is Community management however Public-Private Partnerships (or PPPs) are another possible solution for countries that operate with civil law. These have been successful in some Sub-Saharan countries but the programs that a currently being used have challenges.
How can we improve irrigation techniques to increase efficiency worldwide and replace old techniques such as flood irrigation? Flood irrigation is not efficient and wastes water that could be used for drinking.
The is also a great importance to control water pollution. As water globally is currently being polluted by industrial and human waste, we must assist nations to develop infrastructure that will create environmentally safe alternatives in order to keep our water clean.
Egypt would like to see a solution that will benefit the regions that require assistance the most and will end current disputes over water that is shared by nations.
