15. Water Conflicts (International Water Conflicts - River Nile)

Question 1

Give 3 facts about the River Nile.

Answer 1

1. The Nile is the world’s longest river (6700km)
2. 11 countries compete for water along this basin. (All of these except Kenya and Egypt are amongst the world’s 50 poorest nations)
3. 300 million people live within the Nile basin

Question 2

Describe how the precipitation levels created a water gap in the River Nile.

Answer 2

• 5mm of precipitation per month on average
• the Aswan dam loses 7.4mm per day
  Huge deficit between supply and loss

Question 3

Describe the physical geography along the River Nile. Why might this lead to water security issues?

Question 4

Describe why a geopolitical issue arose between Egypt and Ethiopia in 2011.

Question 5

Why have agreements in the past caused problems for the future?

Answer 5

55 billion cubic metres of water flow has been claimed by Egypt through past agreements, however Ethiopia did not ask for permission from Egypt to use the Nile Basin as a source of HEP.

Question 6

Why is there potential for conflict relating to the terms of phase 1 (the agreement formed relating to