Minister Dr. Muizzu attends OIC Conference of Ministers Responsible for Water held in Istanbul

Minister of Housing and Environment, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu attended the OIC Conference of Ministers Responsible for Water held in Istanbul, Turkey from 5-6 March 2012.

Minister Dr. Muizzu was accompanied by Mr. Mohamed Mustafa, Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The important conference hosted by the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Republic of Turkey in collaboration of OIC General Secretariat was attended by Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for water, high level officials from OIC member states, OIC institutions, Observers and international organizations. More than 50 OIC member states participated in the conference.

The objective of the conference was to adopt “OIC Water Vision Document” which was considered and endorsed by the Senior Officials Meeting held in Istanbul on 12-14 January 2012. The Water Vision “Working Together for a Water Secure Future” and associated resolution adopted in the OIC conference of Ministers responsible for water held in Istanbul, Turkey from 5-6 March 2012 is an endeavor to provide a framework of action and cooperation to address water issues and major water-related challenges in the OIC member states.  The process of developing the Water Vision began pursuant to the decision of the special meeting of the OIC Ministers responsible for Water held in Istanbul in March 2009 at the sidelines of the 5th World Water Forum.

The OIC Water Vision gives a brief overview of the diverse water resources and issues related to water across the OIC countries and the different dimensions of water related challenges faced by OIC countries. The vision is a powerful call and that recognizes the critical role of the OIC in promoting cooperation among Member States on water-related issues and its ability to bring together expertise from diverse countries with unique water characteristics. The Water Vision not only identifies the opportunities for action but also lays out a roadmap for promoting collaboration among Member States in all aspects of water. It also proposes a work plan for incremental growth of cooperation starting from sharing of knowledge, experience, capacity development, technology transfer, water governance and institutional reforms.

In the OIC conference of Ministers responsible for water held in Istanbul this year member countries highlighted and discussed water challenges faced to OIC countries, their efforts to address those challenges and their expectations from OIC water vision. OIC member states are with great diverse water environment, some of them are with water scarce while others are with large freshwater resources.  While observing the diverse water environment across OIC member countries, the participants noted that maximizing the productive use of water and minimizing its destructive impacts was a common and major challenge for the OIC member states.

The Maldives being the smallest low lying island nation among the OIC members with scarce freshwater resources, Minister Dr. Muizzu highlighted key issues related to water and sewerage in Maldives. In a brief statement Minister pointed out that Maldives is unique in its characteristics compare to all other OIC member countries. What it similar to many of the OIC countries is that Maldives is also facing water challenges in meeting daily water demands, however with different reason. Stressing the unavailability of freshwater in the country and continued elevation of salinity level of freshwater aquifers due to abstraction of groundwater from aquifers for various needs coupled with small size and low lying nature of the islands Minister strongly requested OIC member states to assist and support Maldives in developing water supply and sewerage infrastructure, capacity building through an appropriate legal and institutional framework established.