Water minister meets with UN, UNICEF officials

AMMAN — Water Minister Motasem Saidan on Thursday stressed the need for reviewing the strategy aimed at handling the response projects to the Syrian refugees.

The ministry is moving towards redirecting its policy to deal with the projects listed under the response to the Syrian crisis to become development projects that serve the Kingdom’s various governorates and achieve the water sector’s holistic objectives, Saidan said.

Saidan, during his meeting with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan Anders Pedersen and Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at UNICEF Benjamin Smith, highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts towards addressing the Syrian refugee crisis, notably securing water for citizens and refugees alike amid critical water situation.

He said: “Water deficits, especially in the regions that host the highest share of Syrian refugees, are increasing,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ministry has finalised a roadmap dedicated for the most impacted regions, to be included in the ministry’s investment plan, he added.

Pedersen said that UN agencies will offer an initiative aimed at regional joint water issues, stressing that all UN organisations’ efforts will be steered towards securing funding for water and sanitation response plans and programmes.