CAIRO – Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said Sunday accelerating climate change requires implementing projects and adopting clear policies on the ground to address and mitigate its negative impacts.
The minister of water resources and irrigation pointed out to the need for concerted efforts by executive and research entities both inside and outside the ministry, with a view to working in an integrated manner to formulate and implement scientifically based solutions grounded in well-studied methodologies capable of dealing with climate change.
The minister held a meeting with a number of ministry officials to follow up on the status of projects aimed at protecting Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline, particularly in Alexandria, to adapt to the negative effects of climate change and to enhance the forecasting capabilities of the ministry’s Planning Sector Forecast Center and the Forecast Center at the Water Resources Research Institute in predicting extreme weather events.
Sewilam directed relevant ministry bodies (the Shore Protection Authority, the National Water Research Center and the Planning Sector) to continue monitoring climate change, any extreme weather phenomena that affect Egypt’s northern coasts and to assess their impact on Egyptian beaches and waterways in the northern Delta.
This is to ensure a swift response by the ministry and other concerned State agencies to take necessary preventive measures promptly.A number of coastal protection projects are currently being implemented, such as the Alexandria Coast Protection Project (Phase One) from Bir Masoud to Al-Mahrousa with a length of 2 kilometers, the Alexandria Coast Protection Project (Phase Two) with a length of 600 meters to protect the Corniche wall and road in the Loran area and to restore the sandy beach in that area the construction of breakwaters in the city of Ras El Bar in Damietta and the second phase of works to protect Al-Obayed Beach in Marsa Matrouh.
