Receiving the Dutch Ambassador and UNICEF's representative to review EU-funded water projects, and discuss the sector's challenges resulting from Israeli restrictions.
CMWU Receives the Dutch Ambassador to Palestine and UNICEF's Representative
Gaza – CMWU
CMWU received the Dutch Ambassador to Palestine Mr. Kees van Baar and UNICEF's Representative in Palestine Ms. Lucia Elmi, and their accompanying delegation from UNICEF's office in Palestine, at CMWU's main warehouses in Khan Younis governorate and the seawater desalination plant south of the Gaza Strip.
They were received by CMWU's Executive Director Eng. Monther Shoblaq and his Deputy for Engineering and Planning Eng. Maher Al-Najjar. This visit aims to review the projects being implemented, funded by the European Union in cooperation with UNICEF.
In turn, Eng. Monther Shoblaq welcomed the visiting delegation and briefed them on the reality of the water services sector in the Gaza Strip and its challenges, and the strategic projects that have been constructed and begun operating, particularly the seawater desalination plants that have contributed to improving the water service for the Strip's residents, and the sewage treatment plants constructed to treat sewage water and reuse it safely, affirming the importance of the European Union's support for the water and sanitation sector in the Gaza Strip, which has contributed to improving the services provided to the Strip's residents, particularly the seawater desalination plants currently being developed to become capable of serving a greater number of residents of Rafah and Khan Younis cities, in addition to the role of the emergency warehouses funded by UNICEF.
During the meeting, the overall challenges facing CMWU were addressed, most importantly the inability to continue implementing development projects, maintenance and operation works, and completing the repair of damage resulting from the recent war on Gaza, particularly regarding the Israeli side's refusal to allow the entry of numerous electromechanical equipment and spare parts, information technology, and iron pipes, and the effect of this on CMWU's and the municipalities' ability to continue improving water and sanitation services.
He also affirmed the importance of continuing to support CMWU's efforts in order to preserve these achievements and continue operating water and sanitation facilities, particularly strategic ones, amid the difficulty in securing the operating expenses of those facilities and the need to continue supporting CMWU's development and operational programs, particularly amid the economic situation the Gaza Strip is going through.
