The kick-off meeting for the project "Updating the Hydropolitical Baseline Study of the Yarmouk River" commenced on Sunday in the Jordanian capital, Amman. Running from April 19 to 21, 2026, the meeting involves representatives from both Jordan and Syria, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), alongside international partners and water sector experts.
اضافة اعلان
Strategic Cooperation
Hisham Al-Haisa, Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, emphasized the significance of the project's timing, noting that the Yarmouk River basin serves as a vital model for Jordanian-Syrian cooperation. He added that joint management of this water resource has become a strategic necessity to ensure fair and sustainable usage, thereby enhancing stability and development in both nations.
Al-Haisa pointed to the challenges facing the water sector—particularly rising demand and the impacts of climate change—explaining that this study will act as a strategic tool to bolster Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and support decision-making processes.
Data Exchange and Technical Dialogue
Osama Abu Zaid, Syrian Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Affairs, expressed his appreciation for the constructive bilateral cooperation. He noted that the project aims to enhance data exchange and establish a clear, agreed-upon working methodology to build a comprehensive understanding of the current and future status of the Yarmouk basin.
Mutawakel Obeidat, Director of the Water Diplomacy Center (established under the Blue Peace initiative at Jordan University of Science and Technology), highlighted that the center serves as an effective platform for providing expertise and developing mechanisms for joint projects.
Capacity Building and Scientific Research
Mufleh Al-Alwan, Regional Cooperation Advisor at the Swiss Embassy, confirmed that the initiative underscores both sides' commitment to knowledge sharing. He clarified that the project’s objectives extend beyond producing studies to include capacity building, training water sector personnel, and supporting joint scientific research to establish a sustainable dialogue based on scientific evidence.
Source: Al-Mamlaka
