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Thirstiness Strike on River Nile
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16/8/2007
Introduction
Getting pure water is an indispensable right for every individual. It is considered an essential guarantee for enjoying other human rights such as good health, suitable accommodation, equality and being enjoyed with normal resources and clean environment according to the first passage of Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This Article guarantees a number of rights for an adequate living level including providing food, garments and shelters. The mentioned rights are not exclusive, but it is a main guarantee to survive.
Relating to the above mentioned, the involved Committee for economical, social and cultural rights confirmed that getting water is an essential right of people according to passage 1 from Article 11 from the International Covenant. Some international documents including treaties and declarations claimed the right of getting pure water. For instance, a government has to guarantee and ensure good circumstances for women especially providing pure water according to passage 2 of Article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Even passage No.2 of Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child called involved countries for fighting diseases and bad nutrition through supplying nutrient food and pure water.
Although the Egyptian Government ratified the international covenants mentioned above, the problem of water worsened during last years. Most of Delta's villages suffer from drinkable water providing and discontinuity for months, some people living in these villages demonstrated and cut some highway roads connecting the Capital with coastal governorates. People from El Shura village at Kafr El Sheikh Governorate closed the international road between Alexandria and Port Said, blocking the traffic for hours because of an 11 days water cut down.
Some governorates recently have witnessed unprecedented demonstrations and protestations because of the severe shortage of water and the mixing of water with poisons as a result of the factory throwing wastes river Nile, besides many villages which throw their wastes in the river. Also using international banned "Aspostes" pipelines in transferring water is considered very dangerous after researches have confirmed that these kind of pipeline causes cancer.
Regarding what mentioned above, EOHR has released a report entitled "Thirsty Revolution On River Nile" to shed light upon the problem of water which causes ghastly dangers to human beings and to propose a way to solve this problem, which is increasing day after day. The report also includes ideal cases and interviews of some individuals who were exposed to violations in getting services and pure water. EOHR has received almost 27 cases during the period from 2006 to June 2007.
First Section
The problem of water in Egypt … dimensions and dangers
The problem in Egypt has increased during the previous years. We can mention the health catastrophe occurred in Berdein village in El Sharkia Governorate for many years as a result of water impurity which had led to poison more than 100 citizens. Some citizens were poisoned in Belkas, located in El Dakahlia Governorate as a result of mixing drinkable water with drainage water as the Government returns this problem to people who depend on "Abyssinian Pumps". Diseases and epidemic were prevailed in Talkha region as a result of mixing drinkable water with drainage water. 40 000 citizens from El Bat and Essa's country state - Dommeitta Governorate - resorted to the polluted canal water to take shower and wash their kitchenware as a result of their suffering from thirsty 12 years ago .Some children were infected with dermatitis at Abou Rdees South Sinai as a result of not taking shower.
Suspicions were aroused at Souhag Governorate concerning drinkable water contamination; many statistics at El Menia showed that 17% of citizens are depending on contaminated water, besides there are many governorates suffering from water shortage or unavailability such as Ismaelia which suffers from long-lasting water problems which force citizens to search for alternative means. Colon bacteria was prevailed at the El Kassaseen –El Bloaa –Ismaelia as a result of water station broken down, some of other villages such as El Borolus village at Kafr El Sheikh and Beshbeesh village, El Mahla center and El Marg region, Cairo governorate and El Baraka village at Qena governorate suffer from the same problem, even places like Markazia, Benzia, Nakaa, Moaskar and 30 Basar El Qadema villages annexed to El Dakahlia Governorate. Chlorine has been used in Egypt to sterilize drinkable water despite its bad effects on infecting human with cancer, cirrhosis and nephritis and other crucial diseases. Most of the countries of the world have banned chlorine to be used to sterilize drinkable water but officials in Egypt are still insisting in using it on the pretext that it kills microbes. They forgot that it doesn't kill microbes only but human being as well.
In the view of the above mentioned, there are collective death cases in Kaha region in Kaluobia Governorate as a result of liver's and kidney's diseases due to impure water which looks like lagoon's. Kaha city is considered the first higher death rate over the world level in infection with liver's and kidney's diseases:
In 1999 the death rate was 383 cases including 169 Hepatitis and 87 Kidney Failure
In 2000 the total of death rate is 350 cases including 154 Hepatitis and 70 Kidney Failure .
In 2001 the total of death rate was 309 cases including 161 Hepatitis and 76 Kidney Failure .
In 2002 the total of death rate was 239 including 169 cases Hepatitis and 89 Kidney Failure.
In 2003 the death rate was 404 cases including 192 infected with Hepatitis and 131 with Kidney Failure .
In 2003 the death rate was 450 cases including 220infected with Hepatitis and 230 with Kidney Failure .
The last mentioned examples are considered a clear evidence of the Government negligence concerning water problems and enhancing this utility to help people to get a pure cup of water. We are suffering from severe problems in this connections as follows:
- 5 millions individuals died because of water contamination according to the Minister of water resources, Dr. Mahmoud Abou Zaid's declarations, in the celebration of the International Water Day.
- Almost 12% of cities' residents are living in poor places without good sources of water.
- There are no sanitation network in Egyptian countryside where people used the "hole toilet”, almost 4500 villages exist without sanitation networks and this percentage is exceeding half of Egyptian villages. Some 7000 villages get rid of their wastes in river Nile.
The increasing number of inhabitants with fixing rate of water resources is a fatal problem which let an individual to share 900 cubic meter annually. This means that Egypt has entered the danger stage. European institutions described Egypt as "under water poor line " and despite that, Resource and Irrigation Ministry failed to manipulate agricultural sanitation which reaches to 14 billions cubic meter annually. We can use 8 billions and farmers can use 3 billions annually to cultivate their lands without treatment and 11 billions annually go to Mediterranean sea. There are 5 billions cubic meter that are being wasted without manipulation. The cost of desalting is decreased to 0.3 USD but the Ministry doesn't enter this field until now.
It is worth noting that the international rate of water is 2000 cubic meter per year and water poor line is 1000 cubic meter annually. Individual share in Egypt decreased to be 900 cubic meter annually and this means that Egypt is under water poor line while Iraq's share of water reaches 5200 cubic meter annually and almost 2800 cubic meter in Sudan and almost 2400 in Syria and almost 2300 cubic meter in Lebanon and 1000 cubic meter in Israel and 12000 cubic meter in Canada where the population density is 4 individuals per square kilometer while the population density in Egypt is 1000 individual per square kilometer. The increased number of population is forming a dangerous effect on individual share of agricultural lands. While the individual share of lands was almost 1 Acres during Mohamed Aly's time, the individual share of land decreased to almost 5.2 carat. This percentage doesn't fulfill an enough percentage of self-sufficiency or food certainty.
- 38 millions citizens drink their water from drainage although it consists of organic water which, causes the contamination of focal points besides gases, causing diseases among people such as Hepatitis, Diarrhea, Cholera, Bilharzias, Amebic Dysenteric and Intestinal Parasite.
- 76% of villages' water is mixing with drainage water.
- There are 25% of hospital patients due to water contamination.
- Cairo Water Utility produces 6 millions cubic meters of water daily with 3 millions L.E daily and 1 billion L.E annually and this water is not fit to be drunk.
- Although River Nile is the main source for life in Egypt and its water is being used to irrigate and cultivate lands, industrial wastes were thrown without full or partial treatment. Some solid wastes are thrown directly or indirectly.
- Egypt is in a forthcoming period of water starvation with the advent of year ????. The absence of monitoring for water resources, the degradation of irrigation networks and water contamination give warning of a huge catastrophe in connection with overpopulation. The census is expected to be ???? million people and this means that the country is on the verge of water starvation with the advent of ???.
- ??% of cultivated lands will be in a big need of water because of the shortage of water resources and there is no clear or alternative plan to organize the issue.
- The analysis of the Health Ministry concerning water correspondence degree for Egyptian standards specs in 2000 indicated that there are 4 governorates that exceed the bacteriological standards' permitted degree. These governorates are El Dakahlia 14.5, 5%, el Sharkia with 32.3%, Marsa Matrouh with 7.9 % and Alexandria 5.6%.
Second Section
The international criterion for pure water
It is obvious that Egypt is suffering from water problems and Egyptian water policy doesn't cope with United Nations statement concerning the right to get pure water, the statement claimed as follows:
1-The availability of water
Water availability is the main sign for the right of getting water according to the United Nations statement; the main sign depends on providing clear and continued water to houses through governmental networks. But in Egypt the individual share of water decreased in the last years with a clear image, in 1980 the individual share of water was 1500 cubic meter annually and it has decreased to 1035 cubic meter with the advent of 1993, and in 1997 the individual share decreased to 900 cubic meter annually up to now.
2-The quality of drinking water
This indicator has already noticed that there are many problems in this regard, especially the mixing of drinkable water with drainage water, but this water must be commensurate with human health and the environment and water must be ensured of being free of micro-organisms and chemicals and the radiation risks. It poses a threat to human health and it is necessary to work towards the elimination of the components of water known as hazardous to health or to reduce its focus to a minimum so it can be tasted and accepted for every use.
3- The infrastructure for water services and the ability to provide water to citizens
Water infrastructure suffers from weaknesses and leakage, the report said at the People's Assembly Housing Committee in 2001 that there was 50% of the quantity produced seeping from the major networks which was monitored by drinking water facility and not by citizens which is equivalent to $ 1.5 billion annually.
4. The financial capacity to obtain water
The purchasing power of citizens associated with the privatization process and the privatization of the water system in Egypt emerged in the last period by converting facility drinking water to a holding company with the result of lifting prices, which has already begun in 2004
The Government is justified because of the problems facing the water facilities, including debts, as well as waste played by the citizens oN drinking water through mistreating water, which was denied by the report of the People's Assembly Housing Committee in 2001, and affirmed that there is debt owed to the drinking water facility to government agencies estimated more than 400 million pounds and instead of solving the problems of water and the large volume of waste, the Government has decided to burden this invoice to the poor through selling drinking water facility to the private sector!.
And with the privatization of drinking water, there are some of the risks which are resumed in the point of view of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the most important are:
- sharp deterioration in the quality.
- Lack of completing full account with those responsible.
- affected public services with market forces (i.e., the level of profit, as cost recovery), which adversely affects the poor to access the services.
5. Non-discrimination to get water
fulfilling equality among citizens in access to water facilities for all population groups and ensure access to housing permanent or semi-permanent or temporary parking sites. Facilities and services must be enjoyed with adequate water quality, taking into account only the security of the individual risk during access to the facilities and services of water, and also taking into account the most vulnerable and marginalized population without any discrimination.
6. Providing information on water quality
There must be an open system to disseminate information and water statistics to all citizens in the media, and especially in the case of certain crises regarding the quality of water.
7. Providing water for food security
There should be available access to water resources in a sustainable manner for agricultural purposes in order to realize the right to adequate food, and taking into consideration farmers' access to water resources and management systems, including the sustainable technology to collect rain water and irrigation.
Taking into account the duty stipulated in paragraph 2, Article 1 of the Covenant, which states that "All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and without prejudice to any obligations arising out of, international law. peoples must not be deprived of their own means of subsistence”.
8. Water availability for houses and the right of housing:
The indicator gives priority to delivering water to houses, taking care of housing and sanitation service. In regard of what mentioned, we find that the entire Egyptian water policy needs to be reviewed in order to avoid such crisis in the future, and especially in the light of the development that has taken place at the international level on the issue of water, whose trend began to transform water into a commodity that can be sold and purchased, and more seriously than that can be owned by a group of companies according to the Convention on the environmental services of the World Trade Organization.
Where water was included as one of the types of services that will be added to the list of the GATT to liberalize trade in services in the Doha conference 2001 of the WTO , one of the most negative and disturbing consequences at the conference where the water resources under the item "service" and a commodity subjected to the logic of the market and the logic of globalization.
This means opening water services to the private sector, which will manipulate and manage the public utilities for drinking water and water purification, water pricing and privatization of water companies and letting the market and prices' logic decide how water shall be distributed. In this context, we find that the main problems related to water is the inability of the Government to work for the delivery of clean and usable water to the citizens and also for the irrigation sector, the Ministry of Irrigation and land reclamation in both competences, which failed in providing drinking water due to a number of things including:
1. Failure to confront the phenomenon of privatization of services and to stop the conversion to private sector and the dealing with such basic services as a commodity.
2. The Government has been unable to perform its core role. Instead of solving the main problems of water systems , it decided to sell them.
3. The low level of private services in the irrigation sector, which would cover the cost of maintenance of canals. This is according to the beneficiaries' complaints, which were full of many problems emerged from the neglect of village councils and agricultural associations and is due to the slow procedures and failure to take measures that would provide drinking water for irrigation commensurate with the needs of citizens.
Third Section
Squandering the right of citizens to get pure water ... ideal cases
Here follows the presentation of real cases and active testimonies of citizens who have been subjected to violations of their right to get services and facilities of water. Most of those violations are represented by the failure to get pure water or access to safe water - the matter which cause problems to the low income citizens.
There are about 27 cases monitored by the organization during the period from August 2006 to 2007, Kafr Al-Sheikh Governorate took the first rank with 9 cases of various villages of the province, followed by Dakahlia Governorate, the number of cases amounted to about 4 cases, and Qena ranked third by 3 cases, followed by Cairo Governorate, Sharkia and Qalubia, with two cases in each governorate, and then there are El Fayyoum , Aswan, El Behayra and Giza governorates ,in the amount of one case per governorate.
And following chart shows the violation of the right to water in the various governorates of Egypt, which were monitored during 2006 / 2007, and these are exclusively cases:
1. Population of El Nahda-Abd 720, and Egiko 640-Cairo Governorate:
On 27/6/2007 EOHR received the complaints of E Nahda population who are affected by the continued disruption of drinking water from the area for long periods of time since the date of 18/5/2007, which forced them to make numerous complaints to those responsible, but to no avail, noting that the region is inhabited with low-income families.
2. Families of 68 Zerahat Ard EL Shortaa-El Hamool - Kafr Al-Sheikh
On 19/6/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the people of Zeraat 68 Ard El Shortaa . They affected by drought of Mansour's Sea which subordinated to el Hamool irrigation engineering which caused the destruction of more than 10000 acres, with damages to crops and deaths of animals from the impact with drought which affected people with moral and financial casualties. The content of the complaint described that the reason for the drought of Mansour's Sea, is the presence of fish farms from the beginning of Mansour's Sea Branch, on both sides, which led to the consumption of irrigation water and to dryness. In addition to the non-delivery of water to Mansour's sea that must be renewed.
3. Residents of El Eskan Al-Hamra center Belkas - Dakahlia Governorate
On 2/7/2007 EOHR received complaints from those who are affected by the interruption of drinking water permanently with periods of interruption ranging from four to five days a week, which caused the spread of pests and diseases and epidemics which threat the lives of citizens.
4. Residents of El Salam canal - Husseinieh - El Sharkia Governorate
On 26/6/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the area where they are affected by lack of irrigation water for the region because of El Salam Canal 3 dryness, subordinated to El Salam irrigation west of El Manzala region, which is downloaded and is 30 kilometers long. This has caused a dryness damage to agricultural land and crops, besides throwing the drainage water in its stream. People of this village suffer from the proliferation of fish farms which do also cause disruption of water .
5. Hanem Mustafa Hussein-Khanka Ard El Dawagen -Qaliubia Governorate
On 6/6/2007 EOHR received the complaint of the above mentioned citizen who is suffering from not delivering water utility and electricity to her house located at the above mentioned place. This has forced her to apply to the Presidency of the City Council in order to get utilities (water-electricity) for home but she was surprised by the Council President's request for a 10000 L.E pounds payment in order TO DELIVER WATER AND ELECTRICITY. On 29/4/2007 she made another request to Mr. Qalubaiya Governor to deliver facilities and the request was approved and forwarded to the unit of local Bakhankh. However, the local City Council refused but only after payment of the amount requested despite she is not working and has no stable source of livelihood and despite that a low-income family of 3 individuals depends on her.
6. Ahmed Soliman Ali Shelbaia - Dakahlia Governorate
On 23/5/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned man who was offended by water disruption made by the national unit at Menia El Nasr on 25/3/2007, because one of the citizens called Abdel Kader E Sherbeeny cut a water tube from the main branch and he didn’t weld it since he was deliberately trying to obtain water through the store room in his house. A matter which causes problems of leaking and house collapsing. The mentioned man lodged so many complaints to the responsible levels to return the disruption of water but to no avail. He edited a report in Menia El Nasr police station No.2213 -2007 on 1/5/2007 and investigations are still in progress.
7. Population of Demro village and its subordinate villages; Shakhloba- Gad Alah- Kawasem- Meta-Emar-Tolombat, 8 acres el Feki Sedi Salem village - Kafr el Sheikh Governorate
On 29/4/2007 EOHR received a complaint from Demro villages and some villages which has a population of 130 000 individuals who suffer from 10 years from water shortage due to the absence of water utility and services. The population of villages lodged a complaint to Kafr El Sheikh Governorate which asked the population to donate with plot of 12 karats to establish a water station. The population provide the mentioned plot but the water station hasn't been established till now causing the population to use water unfit for human consumption.
8. The population of (1-2-4-5 – Sekna El Bana – El Gorn ) subordinated to El Hamool center – Kafr El Sheikh Governorate .
On 8/7/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned villages informing that there is a water line established from 15 years ago without maintenance. The matter is that water is mixed with wastes and agricultural drainage water. This led to disease propagation. The population complain for amending the line with no avail.
9. The population of Gherb Hafeer area subordinated to 5 Tarfaya village – El Hamoul center – Kafr el sheikh Governorate .
On 10/7/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned area informing that people have been suffering from water shortage for more than 4 months despite the census is 5000 individuals and they have sent many complaints to the responsible sides with no avail.
10- Population of Ezbet Saleh El Negoua village –Esna –Quena
On 26/6/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning their suffering from unavailability of drinking water fit to be drunk so they depend on canals water .
11. The population of Ragheb – Sharkia Governorate
On 8/7/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned area informing that the residents are suffering from the continuous dispersion of water which leads to infections with diseases besides the lack of water to irrigate agricultural lands.
12. The population of Gaber village –subordinated to Koum El Dahab – Seedy Salem center – Kafr el sheikh
On 2/7/2007 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the mentioned area concerning their suffering from drinking water and from sanitation companies that don't connect drinking water to the mentioned village. Also they are suffering from purchasing water with expensive prices and drinking drainage water and being subjected to diseases and epidemics.
13. The population of Shakhlouba village – Sedy Salem center – Kafr El Sheikh
On 19/10/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning the absence of drinking water. They purchase water with expensive prices. The matter is that they depend on canals water. On November EOHR called the involved parties and it received a reply - No.283 19/2/2007 - from Kafr El Sheikh Governorate informing that the village is located at the end of network edge and it is being fed from Foha water station on Sunday and Wednesday successively from every week and there will be a new water station at El Hadady and this problem will be solved on next summer.
14. The population of Basher and Abdel Tawab Hamzawy villages subordinated to Masaret Sawy – Tamia center – Fayoum
On 30/8/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning the absence of drinking water and the absence of a water network. The people lodge so many complaints to the responsible sides to make them take a decision and pay out 3000 m of tubes “4”to deliver water and they asked residents to dig but water station was not established yet, without any reasons.
15. The population of Bahteem village – Shubra El Khima – Qalyoubia Governorate .
On 2/11/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning the absence of drinking water and denouncing that they get water through pumps which is unfit to human being usage.
16. The population of El Zohoor village – Old Salhia – Sharkia Governorate
On 25/9/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning the continuous dispersion of water in the area which has led to the diffusion of diseases among the people of the villages.
17. The people of El Iman El Saida valley – Aswan Governorate
On 9/5/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned village concerning the continuous dispersion of water in the area because water was disconnected from the main canal 30 days before so people depend on wheels and canals to meet their needs. Therefore diseases propagated and kidney failure cases appeared due to the drinking of this water. On 1/6/2007 EOHR called the responsible officials to solve the problem. A reply was received on 22/6/2006 from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation - No. 5095 - informing that the water disconnection was due to electricity cut off in water station No. 5 so this delays the delivery of water to the previous village.
18. The population of Alkhbay village, Shka village Kulain Center- Kafr El Sheikh
On 27/6/2006 the EOHR received a complaint from the people who are affected by the lack of facilities in the village and the lack of drinking water and the lack of a regional electricity network, as well as lack of sanitation, also affected by the non-inclusion of the region plan for the Shka village and other surrounding villages.
19. The population of El Fagr village -fifth session of the Assembly of Almlkah Agrarian Reform Kafr El Dawar -Beheira Governorate
On 17/7/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned people informing that they are affected by the cancellation of 3 water sources by the administration of the irrigation development at Damanhour. These sources are the following:
1-Essential source Shamkh canal.
2-Source comes from Belkter canal on Koum El Nakwa .
3-Source comes from Belkter canal on Rafla.
Note that the source area irrigates 2000 acres including the fifth session of the canal putting a buoy on the Toot's canal and establishing an old gate without restoration.
20. The people of Jaber, Aziz and Hamida villages belonging to the village of Kom gold-Salem Center - Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.
On 25/9/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of the above mentioned area informing that they are affected by the lack of drinking water facilities and that the region depends on the purchasing of drinking water. Many people lodge complaints regarding the utilities of water and sanitation of seedy Salim to deliver water. The responsible sides asked people for digging a tube line on their account, they developed pipes, but so far there has not been any delivering of water. They were asked again to establish a special room for a motor with 25 horse power to pump water but they surprised the people by establishing this pump in a different place.
21. The case of Mr. Mohammed Hassan Diab division No. 7172-sixth region- Central Plateau - Mukattam-Cairo Governorate.
On 7/6/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned citizen informing that he was offended by water dispersion in his area where there is no maintenance support for water network and drainage system. Water was delivered to "70 Fedan village " which is located only 75 m far from the mentioned citizen's area. The matter is that he was forced to purchase mineral water with expensive prices. On 28/6/2006 EOHR sent a complaint to the responsible sides and the answer came on 31/8/2006 by the holding company for drinking water and drainage informing that the above mentioned area belongs to el Nasr Company for Housing and Construction and not to Cairo Company for Drinking Water which was responsible for submitting and maintenance.
22- The case of Ali Mohammed Msamarh on behalf of people of New Alexandria el Manzalaha - Dakahlia Governorate
On 23/5/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the people of New Alexandria who are suffering from the disruption of drinking water. They have already made numerous complaints to officials, in particular to the Director of Water Facility at Dakkhlih but they didn't receive any answer until now, noting that water is not delivered to their area but only one time per week with the risk that people could be affected with diseases and epidemics.
23. Sugar cane farmers –Riabih center Arment - Qena Governorate
On 13/7/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned citizens who are affected by the irregularity of irrigation which led to the deterioration of the sugar cane harvest, being the sugar cane crop listed as the main reliable source of livelihood, and because the lack of irrigation water. This lead to a severe lack of quality and to the destruction of the crop, because of the length of thirst, knowing that the crop cultivated on an area of more than 568 acres Balbor all threatened because of the lack of water.
24. The population of Saft el Laban district – Giza Governorate.
On 6/6/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the above mentioned citizens who are suffering from the continuous water disconnections which reached 2 weeks. The matter is that people are subjected to diseases and epidemics despite there is water delivery in surrounding places.
25- The case of Mahmoud Mohammed Mahmoud, El Kasr village Naga Hammadi - Qena
On 14/11/2006 EOHR received a complaint from the mentioned citizen who suffers from water supply even if he lodged many complaints to responsible sides, but with no avail.
26. The people of Western-Mostamara village of the Center of Belkas - Dakahlia Governorate .
On October 2005, EOHR received a complaint from the mentioned people concerning water shortage lasting for 3 months, causing diseases and epidemics.
On 23/10/2005 EOHR lodged a complaint to the involved sides. It received a reply - No. 13852 on 14/11/2005 - from El Dakahlia Governorate informing that MOSTAMARA village is located at the end of the network and the water is very weak in the morning and it is enhanced at night due to using the water pump to raise it and that there is a new plan for amending water line to feed the village with 16”. This will cost 130000 L.E and the cost will be sustained by water fund. EOHR received also another reply - No.5931 on 8/11/2005 - from the Ministry of Housing and Utility and New Construction Societies informing that the mentioned village was included in the project of 240 villages deprived from utility all over the Republic . There is a decision issued by the Housing Ministry concerning delivering water to this village through establishing a filtered water station at El Markazia village and this station is under construction.
27- The inhabitants of the villages (75-76 -77-78-79-Island Flower-Mansour area) - Center- Kafr El-Sheikh.
On 25/6/2006 EOHR received a complaint by the mentioned people who are affected by lack of irrigation water and interruption since the beginning of the summer of 2006. The matter is that this lack offends the cultivated lands and corps. They lodged many complaints with no avail.
Recommendations:
EOHR confirmed that the State is the only guarantor of the rights of citizens, and is responsible for the enjoyment of all citizens' rights as stated in the Egyptian Constitution, and in the international covenants for human rights which have become legally enforceable, according to the article 151 of the Constitution. EOHR therefore, calls the Government for performing some recommendations as follows :
First: a national plan should be prepared with the contribution of the Ministry of Irrigation Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Local Development and the Ministry of Information. The latter will support the participation of citizens and farmers in the management of water resources and notify ownership of the irrigation and drainage systems, as well as the polarization of all public information efforts at various levels to perform its mission and role on water cases which are considered the most important pillars of development.
The Housing Ministry should develop water stations and sewerage systems to cope with the modern world, bearing in mind that the plan has to include national business plan replacement and renovation of existing stations, and other plan for replacement and renovation work for the networks and solving leakage. It must solve the problem of technical installation of networks, which leads to an increase in the rate of water leakage systems up to 50%, and - in turn – it leads to the loss of approximately 40% of the productive capacity of drinking water.
Add to the above mentioned, the need to upgrade water and sanitation systems and to make maps for water networks and sanitation systems in order to control all manners of electronic sector, while working to reduce wastage nets and detect leakage sites.
The Ministry of Local Development should encourage popular village leaders to help people to contribute in financing the establishment of mini systems for drinking water and sanitation and to eliminate the problem of non-compliance in some stations by chlorine percentage that leads to damage the health of citizens.
Second: performing television and radio programs aimed at promoting water and at addressing all segments of Egyptian society with the participation of executive agencies, civil councils, popular preachers and leaders of thought, opinion, press, media platforms, religious organizations and civil assemblies.
Third: Egypt may face a real problem of water deficiency by the year 2015 in the light of the increasing needs and the stability of the quantity of water available; including a decreasing of a large scale of water. The rate of consumption increased in the Greater Cairo and Alexandria to about 400 liters a day, while the World rates is 200 liters per day, and about 80% of the fresh water goes to agriculture, 15% for industry, electricity, energy, and 5% for domestic uses.
The drinkable water percentage has now raised to about 10% of the volume of water resources. It reached about 7 billion cubic meters per year. The production of drinkable water provides 250 liters per day per citizen. The problem is in the terrible waste of water and mistreatment of sources, for example most of the land currently under cultivation is irrigated by surface irrigation system. The cultivated area is currently 8 million acres, of which about 6 million acres are planted with surface irrigation system. As a result, the use of surface irrigation land become unfit for cultivation, because of the saturation of land and water salinity. Using developed irrigation methods like the spray irrigation system is highly recommended. The rate of surface irrigation system efficiency is less than 50% and the majority of farmers are using 70% of the water, over their needs, and then losing more than 60% of the irrigation water before it reaches the plant.
In order to decrease the consumption of drinking water, water meters should be used in order to control the consumption. There should be consumption categories starting from a lower degree and rise to gradual higher degrees.
Fourth: review of legislation, strategies and policies regarding water to ensure that they meet the obligations arising from the right to water which was stated in the international covenants and ratified by Egypt.
Fifth: take steps on a non-discriminatory basis to prevent health risks caused by the lack of water and to take all necessary measures for the delivery and supply of drinkable water to all citizens, taking into account individuals from low-income, marginalized and the poor citizens.
Sixth: to promote constructive and fruitful cooperation between universities, researches on water and the manufacturing sector to prepare qualified cadres to work in the area of manufacturing equipment for drinking water.
Seventh: protecting natural water resources from pollution due to harmful substances and pathogenic germs, and giving priority to the problem of sewage villages and cities and to the need of using ozone instead of chlorine in the water to kill microbes.
Eighth:give reliance on alternative sources of water through groundwater, and also developing a plan for the using of the water of the floods and rain through collecting it in the core of the land to feed the underground treasurers .
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