World Water Forum institutes Hassan II prize to foster solutions
Regional-International, Economics, 3/18/2000

The World Water Forum announced the creation of an international prize named after the late King Hassan II of Morocco in tribute to the memory of the late king for his wise vision of water policy.

The forum's chairman, Mohamed Abu Zeid, announced Friday at the opening of the forum in The Hague that the annual "King Hassan II Water Prize" will reward one or several personalities or institutions for distinguished action in the issue of water in the world.

Incepted in 1997 in Morocco, the World Water Forum has become a standing institution that meets on a regular basis to stimulate international cooperation and promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge in water resources management.

During the meeting held in Morocco, governments pledged a "new water ethic" to combat water scarcity around the globe and set up the Paris-based World Commission on Water for the 21st Century to put ideas into action.

Experts, politicians and interest groups attending The Hague international conference will outline a Plan of Action for the next quarter century to prevent millions from dying every year as a direct result of unsanitary water.

On Saturday, the conference will focus on water supplies and distribution in the Middle East and Africa regions where acute droughts as well as floods cause huge loss of life.

Middle East experts forecast a worsening crisis as high population growth is compounded by a neglect of water resources.

According to a study last year from the Arab Gulf University in Bahrain, the per capita share of water in the Arab world has halved in the last two decades to 1,100 cubic meters a year, perilously close to the accepted 1,000 cubic meter benchmark, below which human health is harmed.

Previous Stories:
  World Bank chief speaks on 21st century challenges   (3/16/2000)
  Turkey to invest its waters among the Middle East states   (3/7/2000)
  In concluding the Arab water security conference   (2/24/2000)

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