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Egypt presses on with mega water projects despite burden on state coffers

As water scarcity threatens Egypt’s food and national security, the state is moving forward with megaprojects to secure alternative water sources.
This picture shows an aerial view of the southernmost tip of the Nile Delta region, including the Qanater al-Khayreya Nile River barrages, north of Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 15, 2021.

CAIRO — In the desert along the northwestern coast of Egypt, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is building the longest man-made artificial river to ensure sustainable water resources to cultivate about 1 million feddans (1.04 million acres) within the New Delta project, which is part of the goals set by the state to protect the country’s water and food security.

The implementation of this mega water project comes at a time Egypt suffers from water scarcity and a water share lower than 560 cubic meters per capita per year. 

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