Egypt has called for the adoption of a legally binding international protocol on drought, warning that drought, desertification and land degradation are increasingly threatening water and food security, livelihoods and socioeconomic stability.
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam made the call during the ministerial segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Sewilam said drought represents a particularly serious challenge for countries facing acute water scarcity, including Egypt, where available water resources fall below the absolute water scarcity threshold and more than 95 percent of the country is desert.
He called for a shift away from responding to drought crises only after they occur and towards greater prevention and preparedness, including stronger early-warning systems and more integrated management of water and land resources.
Egypt is seeking tangible progress towards a legally binding drought protocol that would provide a clearer framework for international cooperation and help vulnerable countries strengthen their ability to prepare for and respond to drought, according to Daily News Egypt’s report on Sewilam’s remarks.
The minister also called for increased financing, stronger institutional mechanisms and innovative financial tools to support countries and communities affected by drought and land degradation, particularly developing and African countries.
He highlighted land restoration as another important part of addressing the crisis, saying that restoring degraded land and rangelands could contribute to food security, biodiversity protection and the livelihoods of affected communities.
Sewilam further stressed that transboundary water resources should be managed in accordance with international law, as well as the principles of mutual benefit and avoiding harm. He warned that unilateral measures could undermine the interests of countries sharing river basins and worsen the impacts of drought and desertification.
Egypt’s Water Management Push
Alongside its calls for stronger international action, Egypt also presented its domestic efforts to modernise water management at COP17 under its “Water System 2.0” framework.
The framework includes the use of satellite imagery and drones to monitor water resources, rehabilitation of water infrastructure, agricultural drainage-water reuse, nature-based solutions for coastal protection and digital technologies for water management.
The ministry has also highlighted the digital twin of the Ismailia Canal as an example of the use of data and modelling to monitor water infrastructure, improve operations and support decision-making.
Egypt’s participation came as the UNCCD COP17 brought countries together in Ulaanbaatar to address desertification, land degradation and drought. The official UNCCD programme confirms that Sewilam participated in the high-level Ministerial Dialogue on Drought Resilience during the conference.
Egypt is set to host the UNCCD’s 18th Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2028, giving the country a future role in discussions surrounding global efforts to address drought and land degradation.
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