15 million euro German grant to improve water supply in northern region

AMMAN – Water supply in the northern region, which hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, is projected to improve thanks to a 15 million euro grant from Germany. 

The grant will finance the third phase of a water project, as Germany extended nearly 18.5 million euros last year for the first and second phases, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. 

Planning Minister Ibrahim Saif and Water Minister Hazem Nasser signed the grant agreement on behalf of the government on Sunday, while deputy director of the German Development Bank (KfW) in Amman, Sawsan Aruri, signed on behalf of the German government. 

German Ambassador to Jordan Ralph Tarraf attended the signing ceremony, the ministry statement said. 

Saif said Jordan appreciates German financial and technical assistance to fund projects in vital sectors such as water, education and energy. 

The projects to improve water supply for Syrian refugees are designed as emergency measures as they seek to relieve the stressed water situation in the short to medium term in the northern region of the Kingdom.

The first and second phases of the emergency measures included the rehabilitation of wells, water supply networks and equipment.

Germany is one of the biggest donors for Jordan, recently allocating 193 million euros for 2014 to support key projects in the water, sewage, energy and solid waste recycling sectors, the statement said.