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Abdin Salih reports........
The state of Qatar occupies 11,400 sq.km on the Arabian Peninsula. The Qatar peninsula, which has an almost due north-south orientation, is about 200 km long; its greatest width (east-west) is about 90 km. Qatar's only land frontier is at the base of the peninsula, where it meets Saudi Arabia and the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The capital and largest city is ad-Dawhah (Doha), on the east coast. It is generally flat with some sinuosity and elevation above sea level varying from 20 to 60m.
Rainfall varies from 50 mm to 100 mm per year with an average of 70 mm. Until 1953 ground water was the main source of water in the country. However, during that year a small desalination plant was installed which could produce 680m3/d. As a result of the continuously increasing demand for water more powerful desalination plans were introduced together with ambitious programmes for the treatment and re-use of municipal wastewater. According to a recent report from "Population Action Plan", the per capita annual share of a Qatari citizen of renewable fresh water resources has dropped from 1429m3 in 1955 to 103m3 in 1990 and could drop to as little as 59m3 in the year 2025. This peculiar situation, no doubt, led to the present search for additional water resources from non-conventional sources such as desalination, re-use and transboundary importation.
This critical situation led to many initiatives for the conservation and better management of available rainfall and groundwater resources. Various pilot projects are currently under experimentation in the area, especially those related to artificial groundwater recharge. The Qatar National Committee for IHP is also contributing to a widespread public awareness campaign, initiated three years ago, within the framework of the World Water Day celebrations.
This year's programme, in particular, included scientific and cultural activities as well as an exhibition on water, publications and presents.
Although all members of the Qatar National Committee for the IHP were responsible in one way or another for the success of the above programme, the following members of the National Committee were officially responsible for launching the programme:
Eng. Abderahman Mohamed Al-Mahmoud,
Director, Agriculture and Water Research Department & IHP contact
person.
Eng. Yakoub Abdalla El-Haj,
Assistant Director, Agriculture & Water Research Department & IHP
Secretary.
Eng. Ibrahim Abdalla Al-Malki,
Ministry of Electricity & Water.
Dr. Yousif Mohamed Al-Ibrahim,
Qatar TV
Mr. Gasim Mohamed Al-Qatan,
Radio Qatar.
Mr. Ali Gabir Saror,
Public Relations, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Agriculture
(MMAA).
Mr. Ibrahim Gindeel Zaki,
Co-ordinator of celebration activity (MMAA).
The overall programme was supervised by Mr. Ali Saad Al-Kawari, Under Secretary, of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
A seminar on "Water Resources of the Arab Region and Future Challenges" with
core contributions from: Dr. Abdin Salih (Regional Hydrologist - UNESCO Cairo
Office), Dr. Mohamed Samir Qutb (Hydrological Advisor, Qatar Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Agriculture) and Prof. Ali Al-Bahrawi of Qatar
University. The seminar was held on 20 March and was attended by professors
from Qatar University, decision-makers and members of the general public.
Lively discussions followed the presentations and important recommendations
were made.
A public lecture "Arab Water Security in the Face of Foreign Greed &
Challenges" was delivered by Ambassador Mawafak Al-Alaf, Assistant General
Secretary of the Arab League.
A symposium on "Arab Water Security in the Face of Foreign Greed &
Challenges" was held.
A lecture on "Islam and Water Conservation" was given by Dr. Ali
Al-Gurmadaghi.
Many cultural activities took place in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the most important of which were the following:
All Qatari schools prepared public awareness activities and contests were
organized related to water.
Representatives of all the schools in Qatar met on 21 March and took part in
a public awareness programme. The main activities included: a public lecture; a
film on water conservation; and a contest on Qatar's water resources and
conservation. Prizes were given at the end of the celebration.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs advised imams to devote their Friday speech on 22 March to "Islam and Water Conservation"; and the women's branch of the Green Crescent was requested to present a special programme on "Women and Water Conservation".
An exhibit on water was also also organized and publications, brochures, posters, stickers and special presents (rulers, pens, diaries, watches...) on water were distributed to target groups throughout the country.
All the activities and programmes were comprehensively covered by the national media: national and regional newspapers, radio Qatar, Qatar TV and the national cable service. In addition, each newspaper, radio and TV channel prepared special programmes to improve the appreciation of water and its conservation.
The organizers distributed large cloth posters, calling for water conservation, throughout Qatar. They also worked closely with sports clubs and football matches were played in the main stadium.
All this in one day..... One just wonders: what about caring for water on the other 364 days of the year....
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