East Jerusalem, 31 March 2015– As part of their continuous efforts to support the Palestinian people, the Government of Japan announced the approval of a USD 9.4 million grant for projects implemented in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank through UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP).
The new contribution from Japan will cover three projects that address environmental sustainability and employment generation.
Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, said: “Japan recently disbursed USD100 million mainly through international organizations including UNDP which is one of the important partners. Japan has been working closely with UNDP since the 1993 Oslo Accord to support Palestinian people. It’s our pleasure to start new projects with UNDP which contribute to reconstruction in Gaza and economic development in the State of Palestine.”
The Emergency support to solid waste services and rapid employment generation in the Gaza strip project will improve the livelihoods of approximately 1.6 million Gaza residents and create over 180,000 workdays. The USD 4.3 million project is expected to reduce threats to public health and safeguard the environment through improving solid waste management in the Gaza Strip, cleaning of Gaza beach and the restoration of Wadi Gaza.
The second project also focuses on improvement of solid waste services, aiming at the protection of natural resources and health conditions of residents in the Jericho area of the West Bank. The USD 3.10 million components include the expansion of the existing Jericho landfill already reaching its full capacity, in addition to the construction of a materials recovery facility and a transfer station to allow for the sorting and recycling of waste. The project will benefit around 50,000 people in Jericho and surrounding area and contribute to the National Strategy for Solid Waste Management (2010-2014) in the State of Palestine.
The last project is a USD 2 million programme to support employment generation in the West Bank through the implementation of the second phase of the hanger construction at the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park (JAIP). Through the construction of additional facilities, the project will improve the population’s socio-economic situation by providing employment opportunities and sustaining the rural economy by tapping into the agro-industrial potential of the Jericho region.
“The Government and people of Japan have shown extraordinary leadership in heeding calls to support the development of the Palestinian people. They are a true strategic partner for the future,” said Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator. “This emergency assistance will create much needed job opportunities in the West Bank and Gaza and improve people’s livelihoods,” he added.
It is worth noting that the Government of Japan is considered one of UNDP/PAPP’s largest partners and over the years has provided more than USD 420 million for project implementation in the areas of infrastructure, rubble removal, health, education, agriculture, access to justice, and others.
Contact Information Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist, Tel. +972-2-6268229 – e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see http://www.ps.undp.org.
Diala Zaineddine-Dodin, Development Aid Coordinator, Tel. +972-2-2413120 – e-mail: diala@mofa.go.jp