The Centre for Middle Eastern Studies of the FPSC (CEMOFPSC) has organized a Roundtable with the subject: “Coping with water scarcity in Palestinian Territories and Jordan: the use of non-conventional water sources in agriculture”.
The Roundtable was held on the 8th of April, in the Arab House in Madrid. The discussion was open to the public.

 

The Middle East is the priority area of the FPSC, where the problems of water scarcity are causing serious problems and stress. One of the transversal themes for the CEMOFPSC is water in the Middle East and its implications for peace in this region.

Mrs Macarena Cotelo, the Project Manager of the FPSC has moderated the Roundtable discussion.

The Roundtable participants were:

  • Mr D. Abdellatif M.A Mohamed, the Deputy Director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) in the Palestinian territories, who referred in his speech to the difficulties faced by the Palestinians to gain access to water for domestic and agricultural use due to the invasion. The Deputy Director also mentioned the different areas of work in which the FPSC and the PARC are facing this problem.

  • Mr D. Basem Shamoun, the Project Director of the “Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development” (JOHUD) in Jordan mentioned the struggle to overcome water shortages. Whereas, Jordan is one of the three most water-scarce countries in the world.

  • Mrs Isabel Martín, Head of the Water Quality Centre for New Water Technologies, provided technical information on how the Centre works in treating waste- and grey water. Mrs Martín also explained various Spanish regulations according to the performance level of the area of development and operation. Along with the proper technology for each case.   

  • Mrs Isabel Casado, Technical Advisor and Chief of the Middle East area of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development, mentioned the work done by the Agency and addressed the shortage of water both in Jordan as in the Palestinian Territories.

 

 

 

Among the participants mentioned the following attendees were:

H.E. Mr. D. Mohamed Saleh Alfaqeeh, Ambassador of Libya, H.E. Mr. D. Tarig Abuslaih, the Deputy Ambassador of Sudan, H.E. Mr. D. Musa Odeh, the Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Palestine in Spain, Mr D. Rauf Malki, Counsellor for Development of the Palestinian Embassy in Madrid, and Mr. D. Barah Mikail, Senior Researcher of FRIDE.

 

The Roundtable had the purpose of awareness raising under the convention of FPSC / AECID:
“Improving the management of water resources in agriculture to ensure food security in the Palestinian Territories and Jordan”