Khaberni - Jordan and Syria, on Wednesday in Amman, launched the Jordanian-Syrian operational joint water platform, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in the management of shared water resources, and developing mechanisms for technical coordination and data exchange, which contributes in addressing the water scarcity challenges and achieving sustainable management of this vital sector in both countries.
The Minister of Water and Irrigation, Raed Abu Al-Saud, sponsored the launch of the Jordanian-Syrian platform in Amman on Wednesday, within efforts to strengthen water cooperation between the two countries and address challenges in the water sector.
Abu Al-Saud stated that the launch of the platform represents a joint commitment to enhancing the governance of the water sector and developing institutional cooperation, serving as a central, unified platform. This translates the qualitative progress in Jordanian-Syrian relations through technical coordination in managing shared water resources. It reaffirms the importance of cooperation in confronting the water scarcity challenges in the region, following the directives of His Majesty the King, and a commitment from the government within the framework of the second session of the Jordanian-Syrian Higher Coordination Council, held in Amman on April 12. It also embodies the depth of the fraternal relations confirmed by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shar' with the sharing of water between the two countries, reflecting our joint will to move forward in enhancing cooperation in one of the most vital and significant sectors, and is a strategic step that reflects a shared awareness of the magnitude of water challenges, reaffirming our commitment to collaborative action based on knowledge and data exchange that serves the interests of both our nations and our brotherly peoples.
He appreciated the technical support provided by the United States government to ensure the security of data management systems and make them securely available to both countries, which contributed to the development of this platform as a practical model for cooperation in supporting water sustainability, emphasizing Jordan's continuous zeal to enhance regional cooperation and openness to all initiatives that contribute to achieving water security, as it is a fundamental pillar for stability and sustainable development.
The Assistant Minister of Energy from Syria, Osama Abu Zaid, praised Jordan led by His Majesty the King for supporting the Syrian people, especially for its generous hosting of Syrian brothers during the years of war that ravaged Syria, reflecting the depth of historical and humanitarian bonds between our two brotherly countries, and exemplifying the highest meanings of solidarity and mutual support between the two peoples, confirming Syria's commitment to developing the Yarmouk basin and achieving sustainable management of water resources.
He added that the launch of the joint digital platform is not just a technical achievement but also a practical translation of the cooperation values initiated in this meeting, embodying a joint will towards enhancing transparency, and improving the efficiency of water resource management, moving towards a modern model based on accurate data and institutional integration. It will contribute to unifying the databases related to the Yarmouk basin, improving the accuracy of measurements and hydrological monitoring, facilitating the exchange of information between concerned institutions, supporting the preparation of joint studies and plans, and enhancing the ability to face various water challenges, emphasizing that today we are establishing a new phase of joint work based on precise knowledge, sound planning, and institutional integration, expressing gratitude for the American support for the advanced collaborative platform that will serve both countries in continuously monitoring water data.
The Secretary-General of the Jordan Valley Authority, Hisham Al-Haisa, mentioned that effective management of water resources is no longer an option, but a pressing necessity, hence the importance of this platform as an advanced tool enabling us to make decisions based on accurate and updated data, and enhances the efficiency of planning and responding to shared challenges.
The platform, on the Jordanian side, is integrated with other national water systems such as the Water Management Information System (WMIS), ensuring the organized and automated flow of data. On the Syrian side, the platform allows the input and uploading of data directly through its website, enhancing the comprehensiveness and continuous updating of data.
He explained that it is the first global platform for joint cooperation between countries in the field of water basins, which will enable the implementation of several projects, water sustainability, agriculture development, and support for farmers in the basin.
The platform also provides an interactive environment supporting cooperation between the two sides, through the availability of meetings, implementation of activities and training programs, in addition to sharing files and information securely. Access to data and services is controlled by an authorization system that ensures each user accesses information related to their role and responsibilities.
The attendees confirmed that launching this platform represents an important step towards enhancing integrated management of water resources and developing technical cooperation mechanisms between the countries, which contributes to addressing the shared water challenges and achieving optimal use of water.
