Background
The Nile is the world’s longest river, stretching 6,853 kilometers across 11 countries in North Africa. Rich deposits of soil carried by the Nile allow it to feed life deep in Africa’s interior—and even further back in time. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Nubians and Kushites relied upon the Nile’s supplying waters to sustain their lives. For centuries, thriving communities dotted its banks.
Today, the river is still a pivotal source of life for millions of people living in regions alongside it. The Nile connects many countries together, from the Mediterranean in the north to vast swaths of the African continent in the south. It provides the foundation for the development of numerous industries, from the energy-efficient transportation of goods to irrigation to the production of food.
Relevant Data
Approximately 600 million people live near the Nile in 11 countries—Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda. These countries share the responsibility of managing resources, land and water along the river.
In 2018, an assessment by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) put the total population of those living within a 15-kilometer radius of the Nile at 550 million persons, with 75 million of them living in poverty, resulting in levels of malnutrition and ill health that are significantly higher than the African average.
Perspectives from Experts
According to a report by the Nile Basin Conservation Network, desertification along the Nile Delta, combined with climate change, has contributed to the problem of economic and social migration to cities and abroad for those living along the river. This has put an additional strain on the environment and the resources, threatening livelihoods.
Hazem el Sheik, Coordinator of the Coordination Unit for Integrated Water Resources Management and Head of Climate Change Adaption office at the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENSAP), believes that a secure future for those living alongside the Nile can be achieved through transboundary cooperation, effective public-private partnerships, and specialized adaptation knowledge.
“We must grasp the opportunities of water resources management. This means reducing the level of water pollution, building more efficient irrigation systems and dams, and conserving microbial ecosystems in the wetlands of the rivers,” noted Serik.
Insights and Analysis
Despite the challenges, people are still living robustly along the Nile. In Egypt, for instance, millions remain in the Nile Delta and rural areas on the river’s banks, who rely on its waters for their subsistence in the form of fishing, trading and farming.
In Sudan, the story is the same. The waters of the Nile continue to serve as a lifeblood for locals. People go to fish in the streams and rivers that are shallow enough to canoe.
The Nile also provides important wildlife habitats. This vital environment is home to a diverse range of plants, animals and birds, and they, in turn, must be protected.
It is clear, then, that people still live along the Nile. More importantly, though, they not only maintain a rich culture and tradition, but they are also integral to the health and sustainability of the river ecosystem and its resources.
Transportation
The transportation and logistics systems that rely on the Nile have a deep historical significance. By connecting the populations of East and West Africa and the Mediterranean Sea, the river has enabled trade for centuries.
Today, boats are still the primary mode of transportation for people living in the Nile Delta. With the increasing population, goods and people, the government needs to develop strategies to ensure that the river can sustain the current levels of transport and that the water remains clean.
With modern technology, the Nile offers many possibilities for people living along it. For example, there are projects investigating the potential of developing a network of solar powered boats along the Nile to connect rural populations with the bigger cities. Additionally, electric shuttles have already been created to connect cities, reducing air pollution.
Urbanization
Rapid urbanization has put a strain on the resources of cities like Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor, where the majority of people living along the Nile reside. In 2019, Cairo became the world’s most populous city with a population of more than 20 million, and the two cities downriver, Alexandria and Luxor, hold 11 and 6 million respectively.
The infrastructure of these cities is mainly built on the east and west sides of the river and established with a focus on accommodating the growing urban populations. As such, the banks on either side of the river are burgeoning with buildings, traffic and pollution.
The Egyptian government is aware of the problems associated with over-urbanization and is trying to mitigate it. For example, a sewage treatment plant was completed in Cairo in 2018 to improve the water quality of the Nile and create a healthier environment for local populations.
Agriculture
The Nile has been a crucial source of food for many human societies since ancient times. This is especially true for the communities living in the Nile Delta, where the river has provided fertile soil for small-scale, rain-fed farming and irrigation systems.
Today, people of the Nile Delta are still dependent on the river’s resources for food production. The main crops grown in the area are wheat, barley, corn and beans, while there is also some tuna fishing.
The increasing urbanization and climate change, however, threaten the agricultural sector, as farmers are often unable to compete with the prices of imported food. As a result, this has had a negative impact on the incomes of small-scale farmers, who now cannot afford to purchase certain resources needed for food production, such as fuel and pesticides.
Water Management
The management of water resources is essential for a sustainable future for those living along the Nile. Over-usage of the resource is becoming increasingly problematic, as government institutions and non-governmental organizations attempt to balance the needs of various political, economic, cultural and agricultural interests.
In 2017, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt announced the launch of a “Smart Water” strategy, which seeks to manage the Nile’s resources sustainably. This includes plans to build desalination plants along the coast, connecting the river’s water to the Mediterranean Sea to replenish the water levels and divert water to other regions through canals, aquifers and dams.
Cultural Development
The Nile is an important component of Egyptian culture, as the river is mentioned in many historical texts, as well as in modern music and literature.
Along the banks of the Nile, numerous ancient sites of religious, cultural and historical importance can be found, with many of them having undergone restoration and conservation over the years. This includes the Pyramids at Giza, the Great Sphinx and the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
The ancient history of the Nile is a source of pride for many people living along the river, inspiring them to preserve its culture and protect its resources for future generations. The river is considered a symbol of national pride and identity, and its waters will continue to sustain life for centuries to come.
