Speaking at a world conference over water at the UN HQ, the officer warned of the consequences of hydrologic stress on the planet, which threatens food security, means of subsistence, and environmental systems, as reported by the Ministry.

It will also affect living rights, water and sanitation, food and healthcare, he stressed.

Swilam said that climate change is a serious challenge whose effects are more visible in arid and semiarid countries, where lack of water is the main threat to vital human needs.

He named Egypt as an example, where climate change will cause hydrologic stress and therefore affect agriculture in the delta of the Nile.

He stressed that food production takes up more than 85 percent of water in developing nations and around 70 percent elsewhere.

According to the UN, over 800 thousand people die every year for illnesses and diseases directly attributed to the consumption of unsuitable water for drinking purpose, inadequate sanitation and deficient hygiene practices.

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