Egypt has enlisted the help of flooding experts from the Netherlands to tackle its sinking Nile Delta.
Essam Khalifa, chairman of the Egyptian General Authority for Coastal Protection, and Eva Wittmann, Dutch deputy ambassador to Egypt, signed an MoU to look at investigating sand sources to help Egypt protect a potentially sinking Nile Delta.
Various factors point to the Biblical delta sinking, such as groundwater extraction, natural subsidence and sea level rise, posing a severe threat to millions of people living in the area.
The Dutch are no stranger to flooding issues, given that their land is below sea level – 26% is below sea level and about 60% in constant danger of flooding.
A complicated network of dikes and flood defence barriers protect the country, and natural remedies like sand dunes and controlled flooding areas are increasingly being used.
“Sand nourishment is expected to be an effective solution for coastal erosion,” said the Dutch water sector, a network of organisations that specialise in water management, infrastructure and related issues.
“One of the key objectives of the MoU is to conduct research on sand sources along the maritime border of the Nile Delta in Egypt, as well as to prepare feasibility studies for adaptation strategies that involve replenishing coastal areas with sand.
“The memorandum aims to address the challenges posed by climate change on water and natural resources. It seeks to leverage the technical, economic, and administrative capabilities of both government agencies and private sector companies to enhance cooperation in these critical areas.”
A sand survey will be carried out by a Dutch/Egyptian consortium consisting of Van Oord; Horema, geotechnical engineers from Alexandria; and Marine Sampling Holland, a Dutch research engineering firm.
