2010 Report Of The Arab Forum For Environment And Development On Water | Research And Policy Memo #6

Research and Policy Memo #6 | May 2011 2010
Report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development on WaterDr Berj Hatjian gives a course at AUB titled, "Environmental Policy Practice in Lebanon". Seven of his students attended the Arab Forum of Environment and Development (AFED) conference and wrote this policy memo.
The Arab Forum of Environment and Development (AFED) revealed poor water management across the Arab world, including, but not limited to; a lack of fresh water resources within the Arab world; 13 of the Arab countries are currently some of the world’s most water-scarce countries in the world; the average availability of fresh water by the year 2015 will have decreased to below 500 m3 per year—defined as severe water stress; Iraq and Sudan will be the only two countries above water scarcity level by 2025. The AFED report further states that the total water consumption exceeds the available renewable water resources, and population growth is currently exerting further pressure on the available resources, with more than 45 million people lacking access to drinking water and sanitation.