The Secretary of the Arab Environmental Experts Association, Magdy Allam, has warned of expected earthquakes in the Mediterranean Sea which may result in tsunamis affecting Egypt.
Some coastal areas, especially in the Delta, are already being threatened with inundation due to the negative effects of climate change on Egypt, said Allam. Climate change will continue to affect parts of the north Delta, as well as the area between Salloum and Alexandria, known as the North Coast.
Resolution No. 4 of 1994 identified 120 meters as the distance from which an area should be free of any installations. This is a proactive measure against the natural phenomenon of beach erosion, said Allam, stressing the need to abide by the resolution to protect tourism. Beach erosion will increase as sea levels rise.
According to Allam, current heavy rainfall in Egypt, especially in Alexandria, and other Arab countries is closely related to climate change and many countries have recently witnessed hurricanes, such as Japan, Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, Oman and Egypt.
The hurricane Egypt experienced in 2013 occurred in the coastal city of Gamasa and continued for 22 minutes.
The rise in global temperatures is always accompanied by an increase in the severity and number of weather disasters, such as storms and floods, Allam mentioned.
Climate change will lead to population migration and displacement in Egypt, added Allam, calling for more in-depth research and analytical studies to find early solutions to the crisis.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
