EU Creates Broad International Coalition to Provide Drinking Water to 2 Million People in Gaza

Al Muntar reservoir, the main water storage capacity for Gaza city – Oxfam photo.

Brussels. MINA – The EU on Tuesday hosted a pledging conference on the Gaza Central Desalination Plant & Associated Works Project in Brussels. The conference, co-chaired by the EU and the Palestinian Authority, mobilised financial support of EUR456 million to this biggest ever infrastructure project in the Gaza strip, which will provide a minimum of 55 million m3 of safe and clean drinking water per year to the people in dire need.

Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said: “This project will meet the most urgent water needs in Gaza, providing drinking water and at the same time contributing to economic growth, environmental sustainability and stability. I’m proud that the EU pledged EUR70 million for the desalination plant plus EUR7.1 million for management costs. Today’s successful pledging conference takes us a step closer to making a reality of this project and to improve living conditions in Gaza, and remove obstacles to economic development there.

Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah said: “This conference carries a message of hope to our people in Gaza, stressing that the international community is not neglecting their suffering, but diligently working to design interventions to address the dire water situation in Gaza. The project will contribute to the political stability of the region as water scarcity can have grim repercussions and spark further tensions.”

Currently 2 million Palestinians in Gaza rely almost exclusively on the coastal aquifer as a source of drinking water. The capacity of this aquifer is 55-60 million m3 per year, whereas total water demand is 180 million m3 per year.

Only 3% of the water pumped from the aquifer complies with World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water quality standards, posing significant health risks for the Gazan population. The expected population growth in Gaza (+3.2% per year) is exacerbating the already dire drinking water conditions in Gaza.

To deal with this water crisis, the European Commission and the Palestinian Authority, together with the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the World Bank decided to construct a large-scale desalination plant.

The project includes the desalination plant itself, power supply installations to cover energy needs (15% renewable) and the construction of a North-South carrier that will distribute fresh drinking water across Gaza. The overall total cost is EUR562.3 million. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)