World Bank Public Hearing Red Dead Canal, Ramallah (6 of 6)

The World Bank is looking into the feasibility of building a canal between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea as one way of redressing the falling water level of the Dead Sea. The level of the Dead Sea is falling by 1 meter a year because the Jordan River, which feeds the Dead Sea, is being diverted for domestic water use in Israel and Jordan.




The World Bank says the US$5 billion construction of a water conveyance system bringing salt water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea would stabilize the water level of the Dead Sea and thus preserve tourism, agriculture and mineral extraction in the region.

Environmental groups and geologists fault the World Bank with presenting the canal as the "only option on the table", particularly as the plan could in fact damage three local ecosystems, including the Dead Sea itself.

Many Palestinians voice their concern that this project will go ahead with or without them and that their needs will not be considered.

These videos and testimonials are from public hearings held by the World Bank.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• Bank
• Red
• Sea
• Dead
• canal
• environment