Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, attended the celebration of World Water Day held in Afla Garden in El-Qanatir El-Khairiya accompanied by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aaty, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Dr. Alaa Abdel Halim, Governor of Qalioubia, in addition to  Ambassador Ivan Surkoš, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt.

Sobhy stressed the strong relationship and cooperation between the Ministry of Water Resources and irrigation and the Ministry of Youth & Sports to the success of the various campaigns. The Ministry of Sports provides youth centers at the governorates level to reach all segments of society to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation. It also coincides with the opening of the Afla Garden after the renewal to emphasize the country's interest in all its facilities to raise awareness and help in the return of El-Qanatir El-Khairiya once again to its splendor and beauty.

Dr. Abdel Aaty, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, stressed that the country takes important procedures to preserve the Nile water, adding that people should all cooperate for raising the awareness of water conservation avoiding any problems that could happen on the future.

The country executes many projects that aim to protect facilities and factories from the dangers of climate change and the rise of sea level, Abdel Aaty added, the country also working on establishing sewage treatment plants, reducing pollution, improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture and how to develop water resources in Egypt.

Ambassador Ivan Surkoš, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, expressed his happiness for being in the celebration of World Water Day, adding that the lack of resources and population increase are among the most important obstacles facing Egypt, but the country works so hard with the European Union on overcoming those obstacles.

The European Union is executing several projects in 12 governorates, which provide about 500,000 job opportunities. Ivan Surkoš added, he expects increase in the cooperation between Egypt and the African Union, especially after Egypt perceived the presidency of the African Union and the efforts exerted by Egypt in all fields.

Priest Bolous Gameel, representative of the Coptic Orthodox Church, explained the steps taken by the Church to preserve the Nile water. Where it signed a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Irrigation in the framework of the national campaign adopted by the Church for preserve the Nile and its water. Adding that the church is praying to preserve the water of the Nile.

Dr. Ashraf Fahmy, representative of the Ministry of Awqaf, stressed that water is the source of everything and that Holy Quran urged us to pay attention to water because it is the artery of life. 

Everyone should make the water-saving culture a life style. Dr. Ashraf added, the Ministry of Awqaf, issued a book entitled "Water Grace" which was translated into English and French languages.

The day included songs by people with special abilities, folk choral and national songs in addition to artistic shows and creative paints by school students.

World Water Day comes in its 26th year 2019, Entitled “Nature For Water”, in an attempt to explore how to tame the nature in dealing with water challenges. The environmental damage associated with climate change is one of the biggest water crises.