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Egypt Confronts Encroachment on Water Canals

Worshippers take a selfie after Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, inside Al Sultan Hassan mosque, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in old Cairo, Egypt May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Worshippers take a selfie after Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, inside Al Sultan Hassan mosque, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in old Cairo, Egypt May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Egypt Confronts Encroachment on Water Canals

Worshippers take a selfie after Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, inside Al Sultan Hassan mosque, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in old Cairo, Egypt May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Worshippers take a selfie after Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, inside Al Sultan Hassan mosque, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in old Cairo, Egypt May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty has urged state institutions run by his ministry to monitor and stop any encroachment on water canals and irrigation properties.

His orders came as Egypt is locked in a dispute with Ethiopia over its giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile.

Egypt and Sudan are calling for a legally binding agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s (GERD) filling and operation but Addis Ababa rejects to commit to such a deal.

Congolese President and current chair of the African Union Felix Tshisekedi has concluded an African tour aimed at resolving the dispute.

Aty said Friday that his order aims to ensure that all Egyptian provinces get their water needs.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Ghanem stated that in the past years, the Ministry has succeeded to a great extent in facing the encroachments on the Nile River.

Ghanem said a total of 62,000 encroachments have been removed so far.

Media advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture Ahmed Ibrahim told the Middle East News Agency that it is highly important to update the irrigation system.

This falls under the Egyptian efforts to optimize its water resources.

Egypt is concerned over the impact of GERD on its water share, 55.5 billion cubic meters.

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Arab World

Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
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Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.