World Bank: Drought threatens Algeria
الشروق أونلاين
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Bni Haroune dam. Photo: archive
Government rushed to disbelieve the World Bank about drought which is threatening Algeria, and the decline of water availability to the half by 2050, as the executive body confirmed that Algeria is today free from the threat of drought, and its battle is not with the abundance of water, but with its quality.
World Bank Group said Algeria is among the countries of the Middle East and North Africa region, which are facing the crisis of providing potable water, as the individual’s share in these countries reaches an average of no more than 1200 cubic meters, or less by about six times of the world average which is 7,000 cubic meters per individual.
World Bank asserted, in a report on the occasion of the World Water Day, on March 22, that the Middle East and North Africa region, comprises 6% of the world’s population, and less than 2% of the global renewable water resources, as it the driest region in the world, with more than 12 countries in terms of water scarcity, including Algeria, and most of the countries’ region cannot meet the current demand for water in a sustainable manner, and with the increasing population and the demand, the individual’s share of water availability will fall by the half by 2050.
A study that lasted in seven years shows that freshwater reserves loss in the region equals roughly the equivalent to the size of the entire Dead Sea, making it the largest rate of fresh water loss on Earth, during that time.
Same study highlights that more than 75% of desalinated water in the world exists in the Middle East and North Africa, 70% of them exist in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and 6% in Libya and Algeria.
Water Resources Minister, Houcine Nassib, rushed to disbelieve the World Bank report, and explained that Algeria does not face the drought threat, adding that the battle today is not the abundance of water, but the battle of quality.
“Desalination covers 14% of the needs of potable water, while it is expected to cover 20% by 2020.”
“Algeria succeeded in achieving the Millennium’s Development Goals in the provision of potable water in 2011, proactive to the deadlines by four years.”
“Algeria plans to rationalize the expenditures due to the current economic situation, that is associated with a decline in oil prices, which does not mean cancelling obligations with respect to public investments, but through postponing and deferring development of major projects.
