Dr. al-Mimi: “We work to advance the water and sanitation sector through developing legislative and institutional regulations, and improve quality services and guarantee equity in their distribution”.
Ramallah: On Wednesday, Prime Minister, Mr. Mohammad Mustafa laid the foundation stone for the bulk water supply connection points in ‘Aboud. It is considered one of the most strategic projects aimed at developing Palestinian water sector and enhancing national water security.
The event was attended alongside the Prime Minister, by Ms. Laila Ghannam, Governor of Ramallah and al-Bireh, the Secretary-General for Council of Ministers, Dr. Dawas Dawas, Minister of Transportation, Dr. Mohammad al-Ahamd, Major General Naser al-Bureeni, Head of the Military Liaison Department, participated in the event. Also present were the EU Representative to Palestine, Mr. Alexander Stotzman; the Deputy French Consul General in Jerusalem, Mr. Romain Le Floc’h; and Head of ‘Aboud Village Council, Mr. Elias ‘Azar, as well as a number of other official and prominent figures.
Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, assured that the event is the best response to the occupation and its practices whether in Jerusalem, the West Bank or Gaza. He emphasized that the people are determined to live, build and strive for independence, no matter what the challenges are. He added:“ ‘Aboud and the surrounding areas benefiting from the project are symbols of Palestinian people’s struggle, and their determination to confront the occupation, while continuing reform and progress”.
He added that: “Water is a source of life, economic growth, development and resilience. We extend our gratitude to the EU and the French government, and to all those who contributed to the project. The message is clear: “The Palestinian people deserve independence and to live in dignity”.
He emphasized that, in the current circumstances where the occupation is attempting to destroy our achievements and everything we have fought for—erasing Gaza, Judaizing Jerusalem, and suffocating the West Bank by all means—our response is that we will not weaken. We will remain resilient and continue to serve our people.”
On his part, Head of Water Authority, Dr. Ziyad al-Mimi, emphasized that the project embodies the vision of the water strategy and the government’s priorities in developing water sector, as one of the main pillars for development and national resilience. He explained that Water Authority is working to advance the water and sanitation sectors by developing legislative and institutional frameworks, improving service quality, and ensuring equitable distribution.
He emphasized that securing reliable water sources and modern supply networks is an investment in the dignity and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, especially in areas facing water scarcity.
He made clear that Water Authority works on implementing major projects in the domain of sanitation, most notably wastewater project for north east villages. It is considered one of the large scale projects currently under development. It is in the design phase and will serve 14 residential communities with an estimated cost of 60 million Euros to tackle the health and environmental challenges in the areas.
In the frame of good governance and institutional reform, Dr. al-Mimi stated that Water Authority is in the process of establishing water utilities in a number of governorates to reduce the number of water service providers and rationalize expenses, in addition to supporting water service providers with prepaid systems to reduce water loss resulting from ageing networks and replacing them with new systems, and adopting punitive measures against encroachments on water pipelines and public money. He concluded by reiterating that WA will continue leading national efforts to achieve water security and enhancing citizens ‘confidence in services, and building a sustainable water future based on transparency, efficiency and cooperation with international partners.
For her part, Governor of Dr. Laila Ghannam stressed the importance of this project being as a key pillar to local development. She praised the efforts of the Palestinian Water Authority, the Palestinian government and international partners in supporting infrastructure projects that have a direct tangible impact on the daily lives of citizens. She affirmed that improving water services in villages and rural areas contributes to promoting stability and sustainable development, in service of the higher national interest.
EU Representative, Mr. Alexander Stotzman pointed out that the project embodies EU commitment to support the Palestinian government in guaranteeing equitable and sustainable access to water, emphasizing that enhancing the water infrastructure is a fundamental pillar to achieve social and economic development.
For his part, Mr. Romain Le Floc’h, Deputy French Consul General, underscored the longstanding historical partnership between France and Palestine in the water sector. He expressed France’s pride—through the French Development Agency (AFD)—in supporting strategic projects that enhance essential public services and strengthen institutional capacities. He added that the ‘Aboud connection point project stands as a tangible model of this partnership, directly contributing to strengthening water security and improving the quality of life for the Palestinian people.
Head of village council of ‘Aboud, Elias ‘Azar expressed the gratitude of the local community regarding this vital project, as it is considered a qualitative leap in improving the services provided for citizens. It contributes to enhancing stability and development in the beneficiary villages.
The cost of the first phase of the project is estimated at 30. 75 million Euros, and is funded by the EU and FDA. It aims to improve the quality of water services, guarantee equitable distribution in Ramallah and al-Bireh governorates, enhance the efficiency of water management and meet the needs of residential communities in a fair and sustainable manner.
The first phase consists of constructing 45 km of transmission pipelines, two pumping stations in ‘Aboud and Mazare’ al-Nobani, and two reservoirs with a capacity of 5000 cubic meter on a daily basis serving Beit Reema and Um Saffa. The production capacity is expected to reach 25,500 cubic meter, benefiting nearly 90000 persons across 22 residential communities during the first phase, while the second phase is expected to serve more than 165 000 persons.
The beneficiary communities in the first phase consist of villages located in Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate: ‘Aboud, ‘Atara, Beit Reema, Deir Ghassaneh, BierZeit, ‘Arruba, Um Saffa, Kafr ‘Ein, Deir Abu Mish’al, Deir Nitham, Deir al-Sudan, ‘Ajjul, Mazare’ al-Nobani, Shuqba, Qbeibeh, shatteen, and Rawabi city. In Salfit governorate, the beneficiary villages are :Kafr al-Deek and Bruqeen.
The project will increase the per capita water share to 127 liters per day in the beneficiary communities, improve the efficiency of bulk water management, and enhance citizens’ confidence in the services provided. It also contributes to social equity by reducing gaps in water distribution, and supports economic development in agriculture, industry, and tourism sectors. The implementation of the project is part of the Palestinian government’s vision to ensure citizens’ right to safe and sustainable water, and to promote equity in resource distribution, as a fundamental pillar for resilience and development, in light of the challenges facing the sector due to limited natural resources and restrictions on their utilization.