Palestine: 4 million Euros for Gaza Wastewater Treatment Plant

A financial agreement for an amount of 4 million Euros was signed on the 17^th of October by Ministry of Planning, Mr Dov Zerah, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), Dr Ali Jarbawi, Minister of Planning and Administration Development (MOPAD) and Mr Frederic Desagneaux, French Consul General in Jerusalem. The agreement concerns the construction of a regional wastewater treatment plant in North Gaza.

The current plant operates at over four times its nominal capacity. In 2005, AFD, the World Bank, Belgian and Swedish Development & Cooperation and the European Union mobilized USD 46 million for the implementation of a two-phase project. The first phase provided for the construction of a pumping station in Beit Lahia and the implementation of infiltration basin to transfer the sewage to the new site at East of Jabalia to avoid any new flooding of the surrounding areas of Beit Lahia.

The second phase of the project aims to build a biological treatment plant in Jabalia with a capacity of 35,600 m3/day and is expected to meet all the needs of the North Gaza by 2015.

To recover and reuse the treated wastewater an agricultural system will also be set up. With this 4 million Euros grant, additional to the 12 million Euros provided in 2005, AFD will be the main contributor of the second phase.