Africa-Press – Namibia. THE effects of climate change on water are manifesting in more frequent, severe floods and droughts. At the official opening of the Cairo Water Week 2021 (CWW 21) in Egypt, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Calle Schlettwein said the country and other African states need to guarantee their water supply by engaging in transboundary water cooperation agreements.
Schlettwein said in Sub-Saharan Africa alone over 400 million people still do not have access to basic water services. Even more alarming are the more than 767 million Africans who do not have access to basic sanitation and hygiene services.
About 99% and 78% respectively of the Namibian urban and rural population have access to potable water. It is expected that Namibia will have sustainable production and consumption of water resources by 2022, resulting in improved, safe, drinking water for human consumption and industrial use.
“Ensuring access to potable water for all people requires construction of water supply infrastructure even in remote areas. The water sector has been entirely left to the state, and as a result it is under-funded. Recently, advances have been made to avail funds for water infrastructure development. A funding package of N$8 billion has been agreed upon by the International Comparison Program and the African Development Bank for priority water supply packages,” Schlettwein said.
He said as a dry country with a climate defined by the erratic nature and unpredictability of its rainfall, Namibia’s water resources are scarce and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Recognising that water is key to socio-economic development, Schlettwein said Namibia is aware that cooperation between riparian countries in the development of shared water resources could significantly contribute towards mutual benefit, peace, security and prosperity for its people.
CWW21 is a collaborative cross-sector platform that brings together governments, the private sector and civil society to promote knowledge sharing and innovation promotion, and generate further policy discussions on water, climate change and the sustainability of the planet for future generations.
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