CMWU participated in opening the sanitation network project in Al-Suwaidiya village in Rafah ($450,000).
Under the Patronage and in the Presence of Water Authority Minister Eng. Mazen Ghunaim
CMWU Participates in the Opening Ceremony of the Sanitation Network Construction Project in Al-Suwaidiya Village in Rafah Governorate
CMWU participated in the opening ceremony of the sanitation network project organized by the Water Authority in Al-Suwaidiya village, Rafah governorate, with the project's implementation value amounting to about $450,000, attended and participated in by CMWU's Executive Director Eng. Monther Shoblaq, Rafah Municipality's Mayor Dr. Ahmed Al-Soufi, the Director of the Arab Organization for the Reconstruction of Palestine's office Eng. Osama Al-Issawi, Rafah Governor Mr. Ahmed Nasr, CMWU's Deputy Executive Director Eng. Omar Shatat, the Director of CMWU's Rafah regional headquarters Eng. Firas Abu Nqeira, and a number of CMWU's department directors.
It is worth noting that this project came in response to the appeals of the residents of Al-Suwaidiya village, southwest of Rafah city, who suffered for many years from serious environmental, health, and social problems, which affected the lives of children, women, and the elderly, as a result of the absence of a sanitation network and the spread of random cesspits, which led to sewage flowing between houses, hindering movement and mobility, and necessitating the direct pumping of sewage water into the sea.
In his speech, Eng. Mazen Ghunaim affirmed that the Water Authority has given the sanitation sector in Gaza great attention, and has sought to develop it, with support from donors and in cooperation with CMWU and the municipalities, through the implementation of a number of strategic projects in the fields of water and sanitation, in order to protect the groundwater aquifer from collapse, resulting from excessive depletion, seawater intrusion, and sewage water leakage into it, using non-conventional solutions such as seawater desalination and sewage water purification, and implementing strategic projects to find non-conventional water sources for agriculture, as it is the main consumer of water.
In turn, Eng. Monther Shoblaq affirmed that this project will bring about a qualitative shift in the lives of the residents of this area, who faced great challenges and difficulties, noting that the implementation and operation of this project is considered an important achievement aimed at strengthening and building upon the water and sanitation projects completed to serve residents wherever they are, particularly in such areas that are in dire need of support, strengthening resilience factors, and improving the quality of life of residents.
In turn, Rafah Governor Mr. Ahmed Nasr affirmed the importance of continuing to develop infrastructure in Rafah governorate, and developing and working on developing water facilities in order to provide the water needed by residents, also praising all efforts aimed at achieving this.
Eng. Osama Al-Issawi, Director of Palestine's office at the Arab International Organization for the Reconstruction of Palestine, also spoke about the Organization's response to implementing this environmental and humanitarian project after coordinating with the Water Authority to serve the residents of the area, having completed the works, operated the pump, and installed the lines needed for the village's homes.
It is worth noting that this project's components include sewage collection networks and a pumping station, and a transmission line to pump water to a treatment plant in Rafah city, to serve more than 1,000 residents of the village, contributing to creating a safe healthy environment in the village and reducing the pumping of sewage water into the sea.
