‘Nile crisis must be solved to avoid conflict’

CAIRO: A water crisis brewing between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over a contentious Nile dam could escalate into a conflict with “severe humanitarian consequences”, a think-tank said on Wednesday.

Egypt, which relies almost totally on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, fears the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam being built on the Blue Nile could reduce its water supplies. Talks on the issues have been deadlocked for months.

“The case for cooperation among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in resolving the Nile water dispute is unambiguous,” the International Crisis Group think-tank said. “All stand to benefit. Dangers of failing to work together are just as stark. “

“The parties could blunder into conflict, with severe humanitarian consequences,” it warned. The dam project launched by Ethiopia in 2012 is designed to feed a hydroelectric project to produce 6,000 megawatts of power, equal to six nuclear-powered plants.