The Government of Japan, in partnership with the Palestinian Water Authority and the U.N. Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) signed a US$ 6.2 million (€ 4.7 million) agreement on 16 March 2009, to launch the cross boundary wastewater management project in the occupied Palestinian territory. The project will include the construction of three wastewater collection systems in the Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqylia Governorates serving 16,500 people, in addition to building the capacities of the service providers and the Palestinian Water Authority regarding waste management issues. This project will also bring new jobs to the Qalqylia, Jenin, and Tulkarem areas and create a platform for cross boundary cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli municipalities on environmental problems.

“The Palestinian Water Authority has put in place with the Israeli Authorities a coordination mechanism were the wastewater generated by these three governorates is treated by Israeli water systems inside the Green Line and are following up on it with the Joint Water Committee”, said Mr. Ahmad Al Hindi, Director General of Water Council.

Related news: Palestine: building of a desalination plant in Hadera contested, Source Weekly, 17 Mar 2009

Web sites: Palestinian Water Authority ; UNDP/PAPP

Source: UNDP / Reliefweb, 16 Mar 2009

Tags: financing, middle east & north africa, wastewater treatment