Egypt Complains of ‘Water Struggles’ as Security Council Tackles Dam Crisis with Ethiopia

A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
TT
20

Egypt Complains of ‘Water Struggles’ as Security Council Tackles Dam Crisis with Ethiopia

A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)
A view from an airplane window shows buildings around the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt March 10, 2020. (Reuters)

Egypt complained on Monday of its “water struggles” as the United Nations Security Council was addressing Cairo’s dispute with Addis Ababa over the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty said Egypt suffers from an annual 21 billion cubic meter gap between water consumption and production.

It is ranked first among African countries in terms of reusing treated water and the second worldwide, he noted during a ceremony in which a number of projects were inaugurated.

He further noted that his country fulfills 97 percent of its water needs from the river alone, stressing that Egypt “does not wait for problems to emerge, but predicts them in order to find the appropriate solutions.”

He reviewed the government’s programs to address the water shortage through the desalination of sea water and the reuse of agricultural water for other purposes. He highlighted projects to use rainwater in coastal areas, as well as the renovation of canals and water networks to reduce wasted water and applying modern irrigation techniques.

“The modernization of the irrigation program is being implemented in cooperation with several relevant ministries,” he added before the audience that included President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

The UN Security Council held on Monday a public videoconference to discuss the Nile dam dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.

The public video conference was called by the United States on behalf of Egypt.

Ethiopia wants to start filling the reservoir for the 475-foot (145-meter) GERD in early July, with or without approval from the two other countries.

Egypt sees the structure as an “existential” threat and Sudan on Thursday warned of “great risk” to millions of human lives if the dam plan moves forward.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia says the dam is essential to its development, while Sudan and Egypt fear it could restrict their citizens' water access.

The Nile -- which flows some 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) as one of the longest rivers in the world -- is an essential source of water and electricity for dozens of countries in East Africa.



AFP Appeals for Evacuation of Freelance Staff from Gaza

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
TT
20

AFP Appeals for Evacuation of Freelance Staff from Gaza

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo
Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo

Agence France-Presse called on Israel on Tuesday to allow the immediate evacuation of its freelance contributors and their families from the Gaza Strip, citing worsening living conditions and escalating risks to their safety.

In a statement, the French news agency said its freelancers faced an "appalling situation" in Gaza. A 21-month war with Israel has devastated the territory, since Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023.

"For months, we have been witnessing, powerless, the dramatic deterioration of their living conditions," AFP said, adding that the situation had become untenable despite the "exemplary courage, professional commitment and resilience" of its local team.

The management statement came after AFP's journalists' association issued its own statement saying colleagues in Gaza risked dying of hunger.

AFP said it had succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. It is now seeking to secure safe passage for its freelance Palestinian reporters, despite "the extreme difficulty of leaving a territory under strict blockade".

According to Reuters, Israel has barred international journalists from entering Gaza since October 7, 2023. AFP said the work of its Palestinian freelancers remained crucial to informing the world, but said they now had to leave because of the risk to their lives.

Reuters also works with freelance journalists in Gaza.

"Reuters is deeply concerned about the health and safety of its freelancers in Gaza, with whom we are in daily contact. The extreme difficulty sourcing food is leading to their and all Gaza residents experiencing greater levels of hunger and illness," a Reuters spokesperson said. "We are providing our contributors with additional financial support to help them and, should they wish to leave the territory, we will provide any assistance possible to help them get out."