WASH News MENA
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Iraq, Fallujah: U.S. Showcase Water Project Plagued by Problems
29 Dec 08
A U.S.-funded water-treatment system for the city of Fallujah [that was meant to show US commitment to rebuilding the predominantly Sunni city] will be completed at least three years late, cost more than three times as much as originally planned and serve only a fraction of the city, according to a report by the official [...]
First Arab Water Forum held in Riyadh, 16-19 November 2008
22 Dec 08
The 1st Arab Water Forum (AWF) was held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in conjunction with two other big events: the 3rd International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments, and the awards ceremony of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. The Arab Water Council [...]
Arab Countries need $200 billion in water-related infrastructure
10 Dec 08
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) estimates that Arab countries may need to invest up to $200 billion in water-related infrastructure over the next ten years, in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for water and sanitation services. An estimated 50 million people lack access to safe drinking water in the Arab world and 97 [...]
Yemen: more than 600,000 students targeted in bilharzia campaign
14 Nov 08
Around 680,870 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18 in 1774 schools have been targeted for four days as part of the third phase of the national campaign to rid 32 districts in Sana’a, Ibb, Lahjj, Sa’ada, Hodeidah, and Shabwa of bilharzia (schistosomiasis).Launched Sunday [09 Nov 2008], the campaign was organized by [...]
Yemen: poverty and water discussed in recent analysis
14 Nov 08
A workshop entitled Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) of Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reforms was attended by around 90 participants on October 28, 2008. PSIA is the analysis of the distributional impacts of policy reforms on the well-being or welfare of different stakeholder groups, with a particular focus on the poor and [...]
Iraq: still thirsting for water that’s safe to drink
07 Nov 08
Every day, a man driving a tanker truck filled with water comes to Nashat al Chamamla’s village in southern Iraq , and every day the people line up to fill their jugs and jerry cans.“The water we buy from the tanker isn’t clean. You can see the dirt in it,” Chamamla said. “But we drink [...]
Water and peace for the people [book]
22 Oct 08
Water and peace for the people : possible solutions to water disputes in the Middle EastJon Martin TrondalenWater and Conflict Resolution Series - UNESCO-IHP (New series)Book, 246 pages, 16 maps, 7 tables, 23 figs, colour photographs, annexes, biblio., index2008, ISBN 978-92-3-104086-3Price: € 38.00Order hereThis book proposes practical and objective solutions to the entrenched water conflicts [...]
Iraq: Emergency Water Supply Project
06 Oct 08
The World Bank approved a US$ 109.5 million IDA credit for the Emergency Water Supply Project on 10 June 2008.The project aims to support the Government of Iraq’s efforts to improve water supply and sanitation services in selected governorates through upgrading and reconstructing/replacing existing facilities. Other objectives of the project are to start laying the [...]
Palestine, West Bank: residents face severe water shortage as drought continues
08 Sep 08
West Bank Palestinians are suffering a serious water shortage this year as a severe drought has exacerbated already existing supply problems, the head of the Palestinian Water Authority.Shadad Ateli said since mid-May [2008], many Palestinians have been going without water for hours, and sometimes days at a time, because of a reduced supply as a [...]
Yemen: Updating the National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Plan (NWSSIP)
06 Sep 08
Key decision-makers from Yemeni ministries and water sector organisations as well as donors met in Taiz from 24-26 August 2008 to discuss the draft NWSSIP update prepared by sub-sector groups on Urban and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (UWSS and RWSS), Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Irrigation and Institutional Development.Regarding, IWRM it became clear that [...]
