Dura, West Bank – On May 26, the Palestinian Authority and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Dura Cluster Water Storage and Distribution System project in Al Dahiriya in the Hebron Governorate, a $13 million water project benefitting over 46,000 residents of the Southern West Bank. The project will increase storage capacity of fresh potable water for the Karsa, Surra and Kurza villages, greatly decrease the cost of water for the people living in the area and provide residents with a reliable water system for years to come. The project supports the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to develop West Bank infrastructure and is planned to be completed by July 2012.
Governor of Hebron Kamel Humeid, Head of the West Bank Water Department Khalil Ghabbish, USAID Senior Engineer of the Water Resources and Infrastructure Office Charles Esterly, the Mayors of Dura and El Dahiriya, the Head of the Dura Joint Service Council, and other Hebron community representatives attended the event.
The Dura water project is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s $358 million, five-year Infrastructure Needs Program (INP) that provides infrastructure assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and is implemented in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Infrastructure Needs Program projects include the construction of schools and rehabilitation of roads, water systems and distribution networks required for a functioning future Palestinian state. The projects also create jobs for hundreds of Palestinians.
In 2009-2010, the U.S. Agency for International Development rehabilitated approximately 245 kilometers of roads, completed twelve large water projects and built and furnished seven schools, benefiting more than one million Palestinians with a total U.S. Agency for International Development -funding of $177 million.
Since 1994 the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development has provided more than $3.4 billion in U.S. economic and development assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, making the United States the leading bilateral donor to Palestinians. The U.S. Agency for International Development coordinates closely with the Palestinian Authority to support its institution building and reform plan including projects designed to reduce poverty, improve health and education, implement infrastructure and water projects, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance. |
