Water Cooperation with UNICEF

DAMASCUS, (ST) – A two-day workshop to support water sector, sanitation and hygiene promotion was held here recently in cooperation between the Ministry of Water Resources, UNICEF and the presence of local partners and relevant international organizations.  The participants in the workshop agreed to launch some 15 projects targeting 10 million people at a cost of $ 68 million.

Head of the Organizations’ Administration in the Foreign Ministry, Abdul Mun’im Annan, said that the projects focus to ensure the improvement of mechanisms of access to clean water, sanitation especially for children at schools and to improve the reality of shelters allocated for the displaced in places and provinces affected by the situation that prevailed in the country.

“With the emergence of the current crisis, some of the negative effects began to appear gradually in the sector of water and sanitation, these effects resulted mostly from the current crisis to prevent employees of access to their places of work, which led to halt work in this vital service centers or carry out maintenance and repair.” Mr. Annan said.

What aggravated the situation of this sector is the economic sanctions imposed on Syria by some states, which led to the suspension of several purification and desalination projects of water, he added.

 These projects are aimed to ensure better access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for children in schools and displaced people in shelters and affected provinces.

UNICEF, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and several Syrian ministries, such as Water Resources, Local Administration, Environment, Education, Health and Social Affairs as well as several international organizations and non-governmental organizations authorized to conduct business in the humanitarian field in Syria participate in the implementation of these programs.

Through our follow-up of the activity of UNICEF in the last period in the areas of water and sanitation, we noticed the presence of a determined effort by the organization which deserves praise for this action, in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the ministries concerned, to provide safe drinking water.

Coordinator of Humanitarian Programs of UNICEF in Syria, Marl Loseh, underlined the commitment of UNICEF to support the sector of water and sanitation and hygiene promotion in Syria. Water, he added,  is an essential element for life and health of children, women and population and that this responsibility is accepted by UNICEF in front of the world humanitarian community, and because water is essential to children’s lives and the lives of everyone, we will continue to support you through facilitation and providing leadership and support as needed.

We assume our full responsibility for the implementation of the consequences to us, and also guarantee enable you and each of the actors in responding to play its role in this area, we need to continue to come together to put more effort and provide the best and work with all actors in the response, and cooperation with teams of health, shelter, nutrition and education.

Sh. Al -Khatib