Success story

The 44-yeear-old farmer lives with his wife and ten children in a concrete two-bedroom home. "People who hear about Deir Samit or see it would not imagine the harsh conditions the beautiful village hides," he observed.

But 2011 has proven too be a very good year for Abu Rafat and his family so far. They can now revive their farm and care for their livestock, because with financial support from USAID through the Infrastructure Needs Program (INP), a large reservoir has been constructed in Deir Samit for irrigation. Moreover, the reservoir is delivering safe drinking water to over 1,800 families in and around the village.

In the past, to grow vegetables during the dry season, or to provide his family with safe drinking water, Abu Rafat had to buy water in trucks, which was extremely costly. "We had no irrigation system," he said. "But now I can finally take better care of my livestock and farm."

Abu Rafat added, "And what I am most happy for; I can give my children the education they deserve because I can save some money as accessing water tanks is always very costly."

With improved access to water thanks to the top-of-the-line water system, village residents now have greater capacity to operate their farms and earn their livelihoods. Infrastructure such as new water networks is essential for sustainable development.

In addition to its support for water projects, USAID's INP has contributed to sustainable development in roads and school construction. Since 1994, USAID has invested more than $3.3 billion in projects that have improved the quality of life for Palestinians.