A delegation from the EU's International Cooperation Department visits water facilities in Khan Younis, Rafah, and the Central Governorate in preparation for a new package of projects.
A Delegation from the International Cooperation Department at the European Union Visits CMWU
As part of preparations for a package of projects funded by the European Union in the water and sanitation sector for CMWU, in cooperation with the Water Authority and the Ministry of Finance, a delegation from International Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to the State of Palestine, represented by Mr. Charles du Chatonnier and Ms. Ivanka Trudová, conducted a field visit to some facilities and sites where a package of projects will be implemented in the field of improving water and sanitation services and projects to secure a renewable energy source for some water and sanitation facilities, particularly in Khan Younis and Rafah governorates.
The visiting delegation visited some facilities, including the Saudi neighborhood reservoir, the rainwater collection station, and the desalination plant in Rafah, the treatment plant and sewage filtration basins in Khan Younis, and the water reservoir in New Abasan, in addition to visiting the seawater desalination plant in the Central Governorate, funded by the European Union and supervised by UNICEF and CMWU, in cooperation with the Water Authority.
The delegation was accompanied on its field visits by Eng. Maher Al-Najjar, Deputy Director-General for Policies and Planning at CMWU, and CMWU's team for project design and supervision. Some meetings were also held with the visiting delegation in order to inform them of the importance of the projects submitted to the European Union and their expected impact on improving water quality for the residents of the targeted areas, in addition to CMWU's preparations with the documents and plans needed to begin implementing these projects, which will extend for the next three years.
At the end of the visit, a meeting was held with the European Union delegation at its place of residence, including, in addition to the Director-General, the Utility's team assigned to follow up on these projects, led by Eng. Maher Al-Najjar, Deputy Director-General for Policies and Planning, in order to agree on the needs to begin implementing the projects in cooperation with the Water Authority and the Ministry of Finance and a proposed implementation schedule for these projects.
At the end of the meeting, CMWU's Director-General Eng. Monther Shoblaq appreciated the European Union's support and cooperation for the water services sector in the Gaza Strip, in order to improve the quality of life for the Strip's residents in general and in the field of water and sanitation services in particular, and looked forward to further coordination and cooperation with the European Union's International Cooperation unit.
