Tehran, Nov 18, IRNA -- UN Resident Coordinator in the Islamic Republic of Iran Gary Lewis announced Monday that the United Nations in Iran is ready to help the country to tackle water shortage it faces which is in part caused by the impact of climate change, UN Information Center in Tehran said.Addressing a seminar on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development under the theme of science for water cooperation: sharing data, knowledge and innovations at Sharif Industrial University, he said that one example of this support is Lake Orumiyeh for which plans have been developed in collaboration with the Government to conserve the water in the Orumiyeh basin.
At the event, President Hassan Rohani delivered his message to the conference, which was read by his Senior Advisor Akbar Torkan.
Overuse of water resources has caused the Lake Uromiyeh crisis while a number of wetlands such as Bakhtegan, Tashtak, Gavkhkooni have dried up, Torkan said.
He said that due to overuse of underground water resources, some 300 plains in the country are facing a critical situation.
He pointed out that water pollution is another problem in Iran while the impact of climate change on Irans water resources and ecosystem cannot be ignored.
Torkan said food security and sustainable social and economic development of Iran necessitate special attention to water management.
The President, in his message, welcomed the cooperation of scientists as well as all scientific and professional communities to help his government to solve water shortage problem in Iran.
UNESCO Officer-in-Charge Ms. Nilofar Sadeghi, said that by proclaiming 2013 as the International year of Water Cooperation, UN member states were agreeing on the importance of water cooperation for human health and well-being, for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and for lasting peace and sustainable development.
She said the slogan of this year is water, water everywhere, only if we share, which includes the management of trans-boundary waters between countries. Also it means sharing water between different uses and varied users inside national borders.
By IRNA
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