Growing populations and decreasing water availability is putting a strain on a huge groundwater resource that straddles four African countries.

Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan share the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), the world’s largest known “fossil” water aquifer system.

The water is ancient and non-renewable, covering two million square kilometres.

The four African countries have agreed on a UN-backed plan to optimize the use of their underground aquifer system and improve their management of water resources.

Steve Thachet of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) filed this report.

Duration:  3'48"