Recently, the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) participated in a conference entitled “Water for Sustainable Development”, upon an invitation from LOST’s active partner, UNICEF. The main objectives of the conference were to discuss the ways on how the Member States, relevant UN bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions, and other organizations of the UN system, as well as other relevant partners, including the private sector can contribute to the Decade in order to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This conference was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from June 20th to June 21st. On Thursday, June 21st, Mr. Assem Chreif, vice president of LOST actively participated in a discussion panel entitled, “Water for Vulnerable People, including Refugees and Migrants”.
The main discussion points included water-related drivers of migration in different regions of the globe, as well as required interventions to address vulnerability and migration, including policy, investment, data needs and partnerships. Also, there was a discussion on how poverty, migration and water nexus can be addressed through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as challenges related to the migration-water nexus.
Mr. Assem Chreif demonstrated the Lebanese perspective on this matter and displayed issues that are visible in Lebanon, as well as water solutions. One of the most important messages from this discussion was that water security is essential to reduce poverty and to build resilience, and it is crucial to understand the linkages between poverty, migration, and water availability.
