Ethiopia Storing 7 Billion Cubic Meters of Nile Waters

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its reservoir. (EPA)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its reservoir. (EPA)
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Ethiopia Storing 7 Billion Cubic Meters of Nile Waters

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its reservoir. (EPA)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its reservoir. (EPA)

Ethiopia has stored around 7 billion cubic meters of water since starting the third round of water collection from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Addis Ababa began building the GERD on the Blue Nile River in 2011, raising tension with the downstream states, Egypt and Sudan.

Abbas Sharaki, Egyptian water resources expert and professor of geology, revealed Monday that since starting the third filling operation this year, Ethiopia managed to store up to 7 billion cubic meters of water at 597 meters above sea level.

It has so far amassed 15 billion cubic meters in the Renaissance Dam lake.

Ethiopia is carrying out the filling for the third straight year. Water is usually collected during the flood season that runs from June until September.

On July 26, Egypt said it received a letter from Ethiopia saying Addis Ababa would continue filling the GERD reservoir during the current flood season - a move opposed by Cairo that it believes is a breach of the obligations imposed by international law.

Sharaki revealed that during this week, half a billion cubic meters of water are being stored every day, while about 70 million cubic meters continue to flow from the two drainage holes towards Sudan and Egypt with an increase of 70 cm in the lake’s level.

Egypt will not be affected by Ethiopia’s filling due to its Aswan High Dam and its water reserves, he assured.

However, he added: “This does not give Ethiopia the right to impose a fait accompli on the two downstream countries. On the contrary, this filling increases Egypt’s commitment to its water rights.”

The Egyptian government is currently working to inaugurate a number of projects to address the country’s water crisis.

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Aty said on Monday work is underway to rehabilitate water canals in Upper Egypt with an aim to raise the efficiency of the infrastructure of water facilities.

Meanwhile, Eng. Mohamed Ghanem, the spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that Egypt produces only 60 billion cubic meters of water, while its needs 114 billion cubic meters per year.



Sanaa Airport Director: Losses from Israeli Attack Estimated at Around $500 Million

This handout picture released by Houthi-affiliated media on May 6, 2025, shows a firefighter truck extinguishing fire from a burning airplane at Sanaa international airport.  AFP
This handout picture released by Houthi-affiliated media on May 6, 2025, shows a firefighter truck extinguishing fire from a burning airplane at Sanaa international airport. AFP
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Sanaa Airport Director: Losses from Israeli Attack Estimated at Around $500 Million

This handout picture released by Houthi-affiliated media on May 6, 2025, shows a firefighter truck extinguishing fire from a burning airplane at Sanaa international airport.  AFP
This handout picture released by Houthi-affiliated media on May 6, 2025, shows a firefighter truck extinguishing fire from a burning airplane at Sanaa international airport. AFP

The Director General of Sanaa International Airport Khaled Al-Shaief, said Wednesday that the preliminary losses resulting from the recent Israeli attack on the airport are estimated at around $500 million, according to Houthi-run media.

Al-Shaief confirmed the suspension of all flights to and from Sanaa Airport until further notice due to the damage caused by the attack launched by the Israeli military.
The Israeli strikes resulted in "extensive damage" to the airport, al-Shaief added in a post on X.

The Israeli military bombed the airport on Tuesday, claiming to have disabled the airfield in an attack that left commercial aircraft burning on the tarmac as its fighter jets struck power plants and other targets.
The rare daytime attack on Sanaa came as part of a second day of Israeli airstrikes in response to a Houthi ballistic missile striking the grounds of Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The Houthis described the Israeli attacks as killing at least seven people and wounding 74 others over two days.