News

UfM presents Gaza Desalination Project at 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm

29-08-2012

 

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) organised a side event during the World Water Week in Stockholm this week to present the UfM labelled project for a Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip.
 
The aim of the project is to build a major desalination plant and distribution system in Gaza that is capable of producing 100 million cubic meters of drinking water a year and that will help to address the major water deficit there for a population of 1.6 million inhabitants.
 
During the panel debate, the speakers underlined that the importance of this project lies not only in the concrete benefits that it will bring to a population of 1.65 million people but the fact that it gathers a consortium of Arab, European and non-European donors to cooperate together in achieving such a crucial project.
 
“The deteriorating situation of the aquifer has a clear health impact, noting especially Blue Baby Syndrome due to nitrate poisoning. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommends that all young children should be provided only bottled water,” says a UfM press release issued today.
 
The side-event was held just a day after a report was released by the United Nations offices working in Palestine, entitled ‘Gaza, A liveable place by 2020?’, which highlights the longer-term effects and implications of current developmental and social trends and challenges affecting the Gaza Strip. Water remains one of the most alarming aspects in this synthesis report.
 
The reports points out that the aquifer will be unusable by 2016 and irreversibly damaged by 2020. It also stresses the urgent need to advance the project, one of the unique infrastructure solutions identified to bring safe drinking water to the growing 1.65 million population and save the restoration of the damaged aquifer, notwithstanding other vital interventions such as wastewater treatment.
 
The Palestinian Water Authority and the UfM are working together to raise the €310 million of investment needed. Arab countries, coordinated by the Islamic Development Bank, have committed to provide half of the necessary funds to match the European financial commitment. A further €10 million was pledged by France during the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
 
 
 
Read more
 
Press release
 
Gaza desalination project – fact sheet
 
Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat - website
 
Union for the Mediterranean – Environment and water
 
ENPI Info Centre webpage – environment
 
ENPI Info Centre press pack – The EU and the Mediterranean Partners: Cooperation to face the environmental challenge
 

ENPI Info Centre - UfM meeting on Gaza Desalination Facility moves project one step closer

 


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