ICRC, Water Ministry ink deal to cooperate on infrastructure upgrades in northern governorates

AMMAN — The Water Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday signed a cooperation agreement to upgrade the distribution of water in Jordan’s northern region and rehabilitate the vital infrastructure in refugee-hosting communities.

The two-million Swiss franc agreement was signed by Water Minister Raed Abul Saud and head of the ICRC delegation in Jordan Jurg Montani, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Highlighting that the agreement falls within the ICRC's programmes set to support refugee-hosting communities and local communities amid the COVID-19 crisis, Abul Saud expressed appreciation for the committee's continuous support.

Since 2014, the ICRC has offered 25 million Swiss francs to the Kingdom's water sector, utilised in rehabilitating a number of water sources and implementing new projects to serve tens of thousands citizens, besides introducing new water sources, he noted. 

The new support will enhance the abilities of the Yarmouk Water Company in top-priority regions in Irbid, Mafraq and Jerash, he added, stressing the government's keenness on creating innovative solutions that consider living costs in all regions, especially those that are suffering exceptional conditions related to displacement.

Pointing to the long partnership with the water sector, Montani said that the ICRC has implemented 39 water and infrastructure projects since 2014, including pumping stations, main and subsidiary lines, treatment plants and water wells, among others, providing services to more than one million people, including Jordanians and Syrian refugees in host communities in Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq and Maan.

Besides providing training for workers and engineers, the international committee has also implemented various projects, including the rehabilitation of a pumping station serving 21,000 people in Jerash, as well as the rehabilitation of Al Sarhan well 10 in Irbid's Jaber area to serve 157,000 people in the Ramtha region and a project to replace the water pipelines in Jdita to enhance the supply to the area and serve around 19,000 people, he added.

Noting appreciation for the efforts of Water Ministry, Montani said that the ICRC will continue to increase its support to the Kingdom to meet the needs of Jordanians and Syrian refugees alike, as Jordan is one of the world’s water-poorest countries.