CMWU receives a delegation of representatives from ten foreign embassies to learn about the water and sanitation situation in Gaza after the 2014 aggression.
CMWU Receives a Delegation of Embassy Representatives to the Palestinian Territories
CMWU - Gaza
CMWU received a delegation of embassy representatives to the Palestinian Territories during their inspection visit to the Gaza Strip, aiming to learn about the humanitarian conditions in the Strip, especially regarding water and sanitation conditions and shelter centers, with the delegation including representatives of the embassies of Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Scotland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, and the European Union.
The visiting delegation was received by Eng. Monther Shoblaq, Director of CMWU, in the Sheikh Radwan rainwater pond area, in the presence of Dr. Nihad Al-Mughanni and Eng. Saad Al-Din Al-Atbash from Gaza Municipality, accompanied by the Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian Territories Mr. James Rawley and his accompanying delegation, in addition to representatives of UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Eng. Monther Shoblaq spoke about the water and sanitation situation in the Gaza Strip in general and the urgent and developmental projects implemented by the Utility in this field to improve the services provided to residents, especially during crises, despite the numerous complex problems the Gaza Strip suffers from, represented in the permanent siege imposed on the Strip and the resulting delays and difficulties in bringing in the materials necessary to implement projects, and also the problem of continuous electricity outages, which affects the work and efficiency of water and sanitation facilities, and the constant need to provide the fuel necessary to operate those facilities to continue providing services and avoid environmental disasters affecting the humanitarian situation of Gaza Strip residents.
In his remarks, Shoblaq praised the efforts of the donor countries in providing support for the urgent works and repairs implemented by the Utility in cooperation with the Strip's municipalities in the winter season, particularly mentioning the International Committee of the Red Cross, which provided the necessary support for the temporary emergency solution to the Sheikh Radwan pond problem, which contributed to saving the lives and properties of residents living around the pond, who had suffered great damage several times due to the pond's water flooding in previous winter seasons, and also praised the efforts of CMWU's crews and cooperation with Gaza Municipality to carry out the work as quickly as possible with their own material and technical capabilities.
Eng. Shoblaq affirmed the importance of this visit, coming at a time when the Gaza Strip is still suffering from numerous challenges, foremost among them the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip and the worsening electricity problem, and the expectations that donor countries would play an important role in reconstructing the Gaza Strip and its infrastructure and completing work on strategic projects, foremost among them building desalination plants, and continuing to exert pressure on the Israeli side to lift the siege and implement appropriate measures at the commercial crossings that guarantee freedom of movement for individuals and goods.
