Nile River flood likely to be higher than average this year: Irrigation official

CAIRO – 6 August 2021: An Egyptian irrigation ministry official expected the Nile flood this year to be higher than average based on indications, due to the increase in rainfall in many parts of the world.

Eman El-Sayed, head of the ministry’s planning sector, told DMC that the River Nile has been affected by this rise in rainfall.

Sayed said the country is prepared for any quantities of water due to the flood, noting that the irrigation ministry takes relevant measures in the event of any increase in the water quantities.

Egypt’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Mohamed Abdel Ati in late July said the ministry is monitoring the rate of rainfall on the River Nile sources and the quantity of water reaching the Aswan High Dam lake and is studying the different scenarios of floods.

This came as he chaired a periodic meeting for the ‎permanent committee for regulating the River Nile flow to follow up on the mechanisms of water management and distribution and procedures to preserve safe level of the river water.

The minister said rainfall rates increased on the sources of the River Nile and the water level at the High Dam lake is expected to increase in early August.

Abdel-Ati ordered continuing the state of alert to monitor the water levels in canals and drains and ensure the preparedness of emergency units and stations to ensure the proper management of the water system.

Egypt continues efforts as part of a comprehensive vision to provide the necessary water needs for all water-using sectors to help achieving sustainable development goals, the minister said.

The ministry every year follows up on the situation of rain on the Blue Nile and ways to deal with the flowing water, to prepare for the annual river floods.

The Nile flood occurs in the three months of August, September and October due to the heavy rainfall in the Ethiopian highlands.