Water stress: Who will win?

Under the theme "Water stress: who will win?", the Alliance des Ingénieurs Istiqlaliens and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Maroc-Mauritanie organized a debate on water stress with Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, in Casablanca on February 20.

This measure, which is part of the historic and strategic partnership between the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Maroc-Mauritanie and the Istiqlal Party, is a response to a problem that is becoming increasingly preoccupying in Morocco in particular and at regional level in general, emphasized Veronika Ertl in her opening speech.

Currently playing a dual role in Morocco, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Resident Representative Veronika Ertl is also the Director of the Regional Program for Energy Security and Climate Change in the Middle East and North Africa -REMENA-, one of whose main missions is to study the imminent problems of water stress, among others.

She added that the MENA region is the one most affected by drought. According to Veronika Ertl, this vulnerability calls for effective awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns targeting politicians, engineers and farmers, not forgetting civil society.

"In addition to political decision-makers, who have a key role to play in reacting to and adapting to these crises, a multitude of other parts are also decisively involved. These include, of course, economic actors, who develop many of the necessary technological and innovative solutions, as well as civil society, which can, among other things, help raise public awareness of water resource management." Veronika Ertl

The Resident Representative closed her speech by congratulating the organizers on their choice of the topic, and inviting them to continue the debate with various stakeholders.

For his part, Sebastien Wilde, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, welcomed the dialogue between Morocco and Germany in the water sector to find solutions to the drought.

"Given the importance of water to Morocco's economic and social development, it is a priority to cooperate to make water resource management more efficient and resilient." Sebastien Wilde

After the opening remarks, the Minister of Equipment and Water shared with the audience, composed mainly of engineers, a detailed presentation explaining the deterioration of the water sector in Morocco, with figures, graphs and observations.

"We have gone beyond the logic of water stress and are entering the logic of water shortage." Nizar Baraka

All the signs indicate that Morocco is now facing a water shortage. A situation that Nizar Baraka's ministry could not afford to ignore. The Minister informed the audience of a number of operational measures to bring the water situation in Morocco under control, including a census of wells, which began immediately after the tragedy involving the Rayan child. The Ministry of Equipment and Water, in collaboration with the government, is also considering the regularization of wells, on condition that they are metered. And the Minister did not spare the status of the driller, who is now required to obtain a permit and many other conditions.

 Watch the Minister's speech here.