Al Ezzariya, West Bank – As part of the U.S. Government’s ongoing support of the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to develop West Bank infrastructure, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) inaugurated the Al Ezzariya Eastern Entrance Road and Abu Dis Internal Roads in a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Al Ezzariya on Wednesday. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing Fayeq Al Deek and USAID Deputy Mission Director Sherry Carlin attended the event, together with other PA ministry representatives and participants from the Al Ezzariya and Abu Dis Village Councils. USAID provided $9 million to rehabilitate a total of 8.4 kilometers of road, improving travel and safety conditions for the Palestinians living in the Al Ezzariya-Abu Dis area. Specifically, the project reconstructed 3.4 kilometers of road in Al Ezzariya and 5 kilometers of Abu Dis internal roads, providing new base course and asphalt layers, sidewalks, storm water drainage systems and road safety features, including road markings, traffic signs, street lights and guard rails.
The project is part of USAID’s $358 million, five-year Infrastructure Needs Program (INP) which provides infrastructure assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and is implemented in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. The projects include the 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, USAID through INP rehabilitated close to 65 kilometers of roads, two large water projects and built and furnished seven schools, benefiting more than one million Palestinians. The ongoing projects in 2010 consist of approximately 180 kilometers of rehabilitated roads and 10 water projects with the total USAID funding of $177 million.
Since 1994, USAID has provided close to $3 billion in U.S. economic assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID coordinates closely with the Palestinian Authority to support projects that reduce poverty, improve health and education, build infrastructure, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance. |
