A visit by a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank to its funded projects in the Gaza Strip and the signing of new agreements as part of the reconstruction program worth about $460 million.
CMWU Meets with a Delegation from the Islamic Development Bank
The Islamic Development Bank's mission from Jeddah recently concluded a visit to the Gaza Strip, during which it inspected the projects funded by the Bank and signed new agreements to support Gaza's reconstruction, with the total value of the projects managed by the Bank in the Strip reaching about $460 million.
The Bank's mission included Eng. Ahmed Samour and Eng. Omar Muhiyar from the Trust Funds Department at the Islamic Development Bank - Jeddah.
The field coordinator for the Bank's projects in the Gaza Strip, Eng. Rifat Diab, who accompanied the mission, explained that its task was to follow up on the progress of work in the Gulf Cooperation Council states' program for reconstructing Gaza and the Al-Aqsa Fund projects.
He reported that agreements were signed for the rest of the projects funded by the Gulf Cooperation Council states' program for reconstructing the Gaza Strip within the sixth package, in addition to launching projects funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and studying a number of projects intended to be funded by the Kuwait Fund, such as the treatment plant project in Khan Younis, the seawater desalination plant, the Jerusalem housing project, and raising the capacity of the existing Al-Wahshi station in El Arish, with the aim of raising the electrical capacity from the Egyptian side to the Strip.
The agreements signed included signing an agreement with UNRWA to construct schools in the Gaza Strip for refugee communities, worth $12 million, within the Kuwait Fund's grant.
An agreement was also signed with the Turkish Red Crescent regarding implementing the works of the project to complete equipping Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the middle of the Gaza Strip, worth $1 million.
In addition to signing an agreement with the Al-Rahma Association for Relief and Development to implement the works of the project to complete a floor for primary care at the Al-Remal clinic in Gaza city, and rehabilitating and equipping a central laundry and sterilization unit at Al-Shifa Hospital, worth $1.2 million.
And signing an agreement with Islamic Relief Worldwide to implement the project of supplying a CT scan device, at a total cost of $1.1 million.
Diab pointed out that the mission reviewed all aspects related to the topic of conventional energy and sought to solve the electricity crisis the Strip suffers from with the Energy Authority, in addition to identifying stalled projects and obstacles to the progress of work and ways to overcome them.
The mission visited some project sites, such as the schools and homes being rehabilitated by UNRWA, the desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, the Al-Maghraqa water reservoir, Street No. (30) in Al-Zahra city, CMWU's main laboratory, and the children's and maternity hospital in Deir al-Balah.
It also closely observed the work at the specialized surgeries hospital at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, the Rafah land crossing, a number of homes that have been reconstructed in the Rafah area, the eye hospitals in Gaza, the administration building at the University College, and the Wadi Gaza village development project.
During its visit to Gaza, the mission held several meetings with the implementing bodies and relevant parties, namely: UNRWA, the Qatar Red Crescent, Islamic Relief, the Al-Rahma Association, the Cooperative Association, the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR), the Palestinian Housing Council, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.
It also met with CMWU, the Energy Authority, the Advisory Committee for Developing the Use of Solar Energy, the University College of Applied Sciences, UNDP, the Water Authority, the Turkish Red Crescent, and other relevant parties.
Diab pointed out that the delegation praised the progress of work and the noticeable advancement in most of the projects, and promised to study a new package of projects serving various sectors in Gaza, and to provide financial cover for them within the seventh package expected to be approved by the Bank.
