The European Union Commissioner Hahn visits the seawater desalination plant in Gaza and announces an additional funding of 10 Million Euros for the second phase

Gaza, 14 June, 2016 – EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, visited today the EU-funded seawater desalination plant in southern Gaza. The first phase of the desalination plant is in its final stage of construction, and is the largest being built so far in Gaza. The EU invested EUR 10 million in this phase which, when fully operational, will produce 6,000 m3 of potable water daily. This will provide over 75,000 Palestinians with safe drinking water—approximately 35,000 people in Khan Younis and 40,000 people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. During the visit, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn announced an additional funding of EUR 10 Million Euros for the second phase of the desalination plant. The works of this phase will start midJune 2016 and are expected to be completed within 36 months. This is part of the European Union commitment to expand the capacity of the plant. Once the second phase is completed, the plant will produce of a total of 12,000 m3 of safe drinkable water daily.