Egyptian writer addresses Nile water crisis at Hamburg Univ.

The serious issue of the water conflict among countries sharing the Nile River was the focus of a major speech by Engineer Mohamed Ezzat Saleh, a well-known Egyptian writer and thinker, at the University of Hamburg.
The university, which extended the invitation, hosted the event as part of its yearly “Arab Cultural Weeks” initiative.
Saleh clearly explained the complex problems surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), covering both its legal basis and the technical concerns it raises.
He strongly defended Egypt’s historical rights to the Nile water, which are protected by international agreements, and directly challenged arguments made by Ethiopia in past negotiations, pointing out what he referred to as Ethiopia’s delays in reaching a fair deal.
Saleh’s lecture also highlighted the significant, proactive steps Egypt is taking to manage its growing water shortage.
Since Egypt is classified as a water-poor country and its population is increasing rapidly, the government has launched major national projects to secure its future water supply.
These critical efforts include building plants to turn seawater into drinking water (desalination), implementing large-scale programs for cleaning and reusing agricultural wastewater, and fixing and lining irrigation canals to maximise water efficiency.
Additionally, the government is working to reduce the amount of land used for crops that require extensive amounts of water.
The lecture was very well-attended, drawing a diverse audience that included professors and students from the University of Hamburg, as well as Egyptian and Arab community members living in Germany.
The lecture was a main event of the “Arab Cultural Weeks,” a key annual programme led by Professor Dr Mohamed Khalifa.
The initiative runs from mid-October to mid-December and promotes various facets of Arab culture.
This year’s programme kicked off on October 10, 2025, with attendees including notable figures like Ambassador Dali Abdel Fattah, the Egyptian Consul General in Northern Germany.
The comprehensive programme includes over 30 cultural events and also featured a special celebration highlighting the anticipated opening of Egypt’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1, 2025.