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OPT: Additional financing to World Bank water projects

Ramallah, June 30, 2008 - The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Dr. Salam Fayyad, and the World Bank signed today additional financing of US$18.7million to Water and Wastewater projects.

Since the beginning of its operations in West and Gaza, the World Bank has committed significant part of its development portfolio to develop Palestinian water and wastewater services and worked with the Palestinian counterparts in improving the provision of these services in terms of quality, quantity and management. The World Bank has currently four of its 13 projects in the water sector and has recently approved additional financing to the following ongoing projects:

Additional financing of US$12 million for the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment Project of US$7.8 million

The project addresses the immediate and impending health, environmental and safety threats to the communities surrounding the effluent lake at Beit Lahia. The project provides a long-term solution to the treatment and reuse of wastewater for the Northern Governorate in Gaza directly benefiting 300,000 people. In addition the project aims to protect groundwater from contamination and reduce exposure to public health risks.

Additional financing of US$5 million for the Gaza II Emergency Water Project of US$20 million

The project aims at improving the provision of adequate water and wastewater services in Gaza; strengthening the newly established Coastal Municipalities Water Utility and; strengthening the Palestinian Water Authority capacity to assume sector regulatory functions (designed on the completed project 'Gaza Water and Sanitation Services Improvement Project")

An Italian Grant of about US$ 1.7 million for additional financing to the Solid Waste and Environmental Management Project of US$9.5 million

The project implements an environmentally sound solid waste management system for Jenin District through the construction of a controlled sanitary landfill, rehabilitation/closure of uncontrolled dumps and improvement of management services. The additional financing will build a transfer station, rehabilitate roads, supply equipment and build capacity to the Wadi Shaeer Joint Services Council to enable it use the Jenin sanitary landfill.

For more information on the World Bank's work in West Bank and Gaza, please visit: www.worldbank.org/ps