Amman: A launch meeting for the "Updating the Hydropolitical Reference Study of the Yarmouk River" project began in Amman on Sunday, bringing together representatives from Jordan and Syria, international partners, and water sector experts, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
According to Jordan News Agency, Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority Hisham Hayaseh emphasized that the project's initiation is timely and essential for setting the stage for complementary initiatives. Hayaseh identified the Yarmouk River basin as a significant model for Jordanian-Syrian cooperation, indicating that joint management of shared water resources is a strategic necessity to ensure equitable and sustainable utilization, fostering stability and development in both countries.
Hayaseh also pointed out the escalating challenges in the water sector, such as rising demand and climate change impacts. He noted that the study will function as a strategic tool to enhance integrated water resources management and guide evidence-based decision-making.
Syrian Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Affairs Osama Abu Zeid highlighted that the project aims to reinforce data-sharing mechanisms and establish a unified methodology. This will support a comprehensive assessment of the current and future status of the Yarmouk Basin amid environmental and climate-related pressures, ultimately enhancing water conditions for both nations.
Director of the Water Diplomacy Center Mutawakkil Obeidat stated that the center, established under the Blue Peace Initiative with support from SDC at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, acts as a hub for knowledge exchange, development of joint implementation mechanisms, and promotion of collaborative approaches to address shared challenges in the basin.
Regional Cooperation Advisor at the Swiss Embassy Mufleh Alwan commented that the initiative represents a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation and knowledge exchange. He mentioned that the project transcends analytical outputs to include capacity-building, workforce training in the water sector, and support for joint scientific research, encouraging sustained, evidence-based dialogue.