NAPLES - The availability of fresh water is expected to drop by 15% over the next few decades, leading to severe problems for agriculture and other human uses in areas already suffering from water scarcity. The population of the area of the Mediterranean classified as ''water scarce'' could increase to over 250 million inhabitants over the next 20 years. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has warned of this ahead of World Water Day and underscored the need for regional dialogue on a common line to deal with the water scarcity. The day, which falls on March 22, will this year have as its theme 'Water and Climate Change', a challenge for all countries, UfM underscored, that must be dealt with together.

At the moment, there is often disagreement between those using aquifers and landowners or between countries themselves. Irrigation is the focus, since it accounts for between 50% and 90% of overall water demand in the Mediterranean basin.

Forecasts on climate change estimate that this figure will increase by 18% by the end of this century. For a common direction on the Water Agenda, it is essential to ensure that every Mediterranean country has the necessary technical, administrative and financial tools to support its population and economic activities. The UfM has held workshops on this issue in Italy, Lebanon, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, France, and Greece. Other workshops will be held this year in Tunisia and Jordan.

The regional initiative is being implemented to achieve one of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: to ensure water an hygiene for all.

This goal also includes the resume of waste waters. UfM will starting in June give support to initiatives in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Palestine, and Tunisia. Among the projects is an integrated program for the protection of Lake Bizerte in Tunisia from pollution and desalinisation facilities in the Gaza Strip, which will provide drinking water to two million Palestinians.