YAOUNDE, July 15 (Xinhua) -- African leaders and water experts gathered in Chad Wednesday for the opening of the African Water Forum, held under the theme "From Vision to Action."
The two-day meeting focuses on water governance, funding for infrastructure and stronger regional cooperation. Heads of state from Chad, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania and Benin attended the forum in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena.
In his opening remarks, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said "Africa is facing a water crisis of unprecedented scale."
"More than 400 million Africans still do not have access to safe drinking water. Our storage capacity is falling, irrigation levels are far too low, and climate change could cut GDP in some of our regions by nearly 12 percent by 2050. This forum marks the start of a new global commitment," he said.
Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema stressed the urgency of the issue. "Guaranteeing universal access to drinking water is not just a strategic priority. It is essential for the development, health and dignity of our people," he said.
