Jordan celebrates World Water Day, pursues sustainable water resource management
AMMAN — Jordan on Saturday celebrated the World Water Day, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing the sustainability of its water resources through "ambitious" projects and strategic plans to preserve water and ensure a secure and sustainable water future.
World Water Day, observed annually by the United Nations on March 22, aims to highlight the importance of water and inspire action to address the global water crisis.
Jordan places "significant" importance on sustaining its water resources, recognising water as a fundamental resource for life and sustainable development.
Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the Kingdom has achieved notable success globally in advancing the sixth Sustainable Development Goal: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
Despite growing challenges and pressure on water facilities, Jordan focuses on sustainable management of water resources, wastewater, and ecosystems while emphasising the need for a supportive environment.
He added that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda includes a commitment to systematically monitor and review progress towards the desired goals and targets using relevant global indicators, a commitment Jordan is working to fulfil through carefully studied plans.
Abu Soud highlighted Jordan's integrated strategies for water conservation and achieving water security through desalination, reusing treated wastewater for irrigation, constructing dams, implementing water harvesting projects, and managing groundwater.
"World Water Day offers an opportunity to reaffirm and implement the directives of the Letter of Designation and the concern of His Majesty King Abdullah over the water issue, which is strategically vital for water and food security," the minister said.
"Speedy implementation of strategic projects to achieve water security is essential, with the National Carrier Project being a key initiative that will provide 300 million cubic meters of water annually. Efforts are also underway to reduce water loss, curb water pipeline violations, and hold offenders accountable," Abu Soud said.
Recently, the government launched the National Water Strategy for 2023-2040, outlining objectives and plans to achieve water security while aligning with population growth and urban and economic expansion, he noted.
Key aspects of the strategy include reducing dependence on fresh water by increasing the use of reclaimed water for irrigated agriculture, adopting more efficient irrigation methods, expanding rain-fed agriculture, and collecting rainwater.
He said that the Ministry of Water, in collaboration with international organisations, encourages modern agricultural techniques like hydroponics, which require less water compared to traditional farming.
The ministry also promotes innovation and utilises advanced technology to optimise water resources, contributing to achieving the SDGs and benefiting from renewable energy.
Regarding the use of modern technology in energy, he explained that the water sector has adopted the Energy Management System (EnMS) according to the global ISO 50001 standard, consistent with the water sector's energy policy. All water facilities are expected to be included in the EnMS by 2030, aligning with the sixth SDG.
The minister referred to significant expansion in wastewater infrastructure, with the number of wastewater treatment plants rising from seven in 1999 to 36 in the present.
These facilities treat 235 million cubic meters of water, providing 190 million cubic meters of reclaimed water suitable for restricted agricultural use.
Also, 66 per cent of the population now has access to wastewater services, said the minister, adding that a wastewater strategy was launched at a cost of JD930 million to implement wastewater projects, expand services to new areas, and improve environmental conditions.
According to reports from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan is among the world's most water-scarce countries, with per capita water availability at some 61 cubic meters annually, where the Kingdom faces a water deficit of about 400 million cubic meters annually due to declining water sources, Petra said.
Jordan's total available water from all sources stands at 1.115 billion cubic meters, including around 510 million cubic meters for municipal use, 570 million for agricultural and livestock purposes, and 35 million for industrial use.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
10 hours ago
- Roya News
US vetoes UN Security Council call for Gaza ceasefire
The United States vetoed Wednesday a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, which Washington claimed undermined ongoing diplomacy to resolve the conflict. It was the 15-member body's first vote on the situation since November, when the United States -- a key 'Israeli' ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. "This resolution would undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground and emboldens Hamas," Washington's United Nations envoy Dorothy Shea said ahead of the vote. "This resolution also draws false equivalence between Israel and Hamas," she said. The draft resolution had demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties." It also called for the "immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups." Underlining a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territory, the resolution, had it passed, would have demanded the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The veto was the first wielded by Washington since US President Donald Trump took office in January. 'Israel' has faced growing international pressure to end its war on Gaza. That scrutiny has increased over flailing aid distribution in Gaza, which 'Israel' blocked for more than two months before allowing a small number of UN vehicles to enter in mid-May. The United Nations said that was not enough to meet the humanitarian needs. 'Judged by history' A US-backed relief effort called the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) has also faced criticism for going against long-standing humanitarian principles by coordinating relief efforts with a military belligerent. 'Israeli' bombardment on Wednesday killed at least 16 people in the Gaza Strip, including 12 in a single strike on a tent housing displaced people, the Palestinian territory's civil defense agency said. On Tuesday, 27 people were killed in southern Gaza when 'Israeli' troops opened fire near a GHF aid site, with the military saying the incident was under investigation. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, on Tuesday urged the Council to act. "All of us will be judged by history as to how much have we done in order to stop this crime against the Palestinian people," he said. 'Israel's' ambassador to the UN Danny Danon attacked the text ahead of the vote. "This resolution doesn't advance humanitarian relief. It undermines it. It ignores a working system in favor of political agendas," he was to tell the council, according to remarks released by his office.
Ammon
2 days ago
- Ammon
The thin line between explosion and détente in Gaza
The Witkoff Plan is one of the most prominent international initiatives proposed to halt the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which has entered its final months amid profound political, military, and humanitarian complications. While the plan came in response to mounting international pressure, particularly from the Trump administration, the positions of both Israel and Hamas have ranged from conditional acceptance to cautious rejection. This makes the future of this plan contingent on a set of complex internal, regional, and international equations, and makes studying possible scenarios a matter of strategic importance. The Witkoff Plan, proposed under US sponsorship and led by President Donald Trump and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, aims for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days, with US guarantees, as a prelude to reaching a permanent agreement. It stipulates the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies from a list of hostages, in exchange for the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 detainees from Gaza, in addition to the handover of 180 Palestinian bodies. The plan includes a cessation of Israeli military operations, a restriction of military air traffic, and the redeployment of Israeli forces northward and then southward, according to agreed-upon maps. It also stipulates the entry of humanitarian aid under the supervision of the United Nations and the Red Crescent. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire will begin on the first day of the truce, and will address the exchange of the remaining hostages, redeployment, security arrangements, and the "day after" for Gaza. If an agreement is not reached within the deadline, the truce can be extended under agreed-upon terms. The plan includes mediation and guarantees from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, with direct oversight from President Trump, who will officially announce the agreement. The Israeli scene is suffering from a sharp internal division between a security faction that favors accepting the plan as a political solution that saves Israel's face, and a hard-line right-wing faction that rejects any truce before the complete elimination of the "military threat from Hamas." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he fears that accepting the plan will lead to the collapse of his government under pressure from the extreme right, which threatens to withdraw. On the other hand, he faces increasing American pressure, in addition to internal demonstrations by the families of the hostages, who accuse his government of stalling and sacrificing their sons for narrow political calculations. Israel, in its strategic depth, fears that accepting the plan will be perceived as a political and military defeat against a beleaguered resistance movement, and that the scenario following the 2006 Lebanon War will be repeated, when Hezbollah emerged with increasing political and popular influence despite human and material losses. In contrast, Hamas, despite the severe blows it has suffered, retains a negotiating position based on its remaining Israeli hostages and its ability to withstand the war machine. Hamas expressed initial acceptance of the plan, but stipulated that it include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the release of all Palestinian prisoners, and a rejection of any Israeli military or security presence inside the Strip. It also stipulated the need for Gaza's reconstruction under Arab and international supervision. These demands reflect the movement's desire to transform the results of the war into political gains that will enable it to maintain its role in the Palestinian arena, especially in light of talk of future arrangements that may include the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza or the formation of a new administration for the Strip with regional participation. In light of these facts, three main scenarios for the future of the Witkoff plan can be envisioned. The first scenario involves conditional mutual acceptance of the plan, whereby some of its provisions are modified to bring the positions closer together, and a gradual implementation phase begins under international supervision, with American and regional guarantees. This scenario is possible, but it requires internal consensus within Israel and effective pressure from Washington on the Netanyahu government. It also requires Hamas's tacit acceptance of the phased solution without compromising its basic conditions. The second scenario is that Israel refuses to implement the second phase of the plan after the release of some hostages, leading to the collapse of the agreement and the resumption of fighting. This scenario reflects the nature of the divisions within the Israeli government and could lead to a domestic political crisis and increased public pressure. However, it could also serve Netanyahu in gaining more time and avoiding the collapse of his coalition. The third, and most bleak, scenario is the complete failure of the plan, either due to the refusal of one party or the collapse of international understandings, leading to the continuation of the war and its transformation into a protracted war of attrition. In this scenario, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza would worsen, and Arab and international popular anger against Israel would expand. Other regional parties might also become more involved, threatening to escalate the situation on other fronts, such as southern Lebanon or the West Bank. In this scenario, the United States would find itself in an extremely difficult position before the world. The Witkoff Plan, despite its political ambition and humanitarian dimensions, collides with an extremely complex reality, rendering its chances of success limited without comprehensive agreements and painful concessions from both sides. This seems unlikely given each side's adherence to its own narrative and objectives. At the same time, however, the plan could constitute a preliminary framework upon which to build to reduce the intensity of the conflict and open a window for negotiations, should genuine international support and political will transcend narrow calculations be available. Between rejection and acceptance, Gaza's future remains suspended on a thin line between explosion and détente.
Roya News
4 days ago
- Roya News
British FM says Morocco's autonomy plan for W. Sahara 'most credible' solution
British foreign minister David Lammy said on Sunday that Morocco's autonomy plan for the territory of Western Sahara was the "most credible" solution to the decades long dispute, reversing London's long-standing position. Speaking in Rabat, Lammy said Morocco's 2007 plan represented "the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute". Britain previously backed self-determination for the former Spanish colony, which Morocco claims as an integral part of its kingdom. He urged all parties involved in the dispute to 'urgently and constructively engage in the political process led by the United Nations' to reach a solution. The statement marks a shift in the UK's position. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain had previously supported efforts to achieve a political solution that ensures the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the UK's new stance, saying it would 'significantly strengthen momentum and push forward the UN-led process toward a final, mutually agreed solution based on the autonomy initiative.' Morocco views its autonomy plan — which proposes self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty — as the only viable solution to the dispute over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that the UN classifies as a 'non-self-governing territory.' The Algeria-backed Polisario Front continues to demand full independence. Morocco controls most of the contested territory, where the conflict has persisted for nearly 50 years. In October 2024, the UN Security Council renewed its call for Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a 'durable and mutually acceptable' resolution.
