In the previous editorial of September 2006, the World Bank stressed with pride our continuous presence in, and support to, the West Bank and Gaza since 1993. Over this period, the Bank has used over US$510 million of its resources to finance projects in the Palestinian Territories. These projects have created hundreds of employment opportunities, supported over 3,500 infrastructure projects, constructed 1,700 classrooms, rehabilitated or constructed 600 medical facilities, built over 750 kilometers of water and sewage lines, rehabilitated 1,300 kilometers of roads, and during the intifada helped 700,000 children to attend school and assisted 220,000 children to graduate from high school. However, the challenge for us has been and continues to be to do more, not only in helping deliver economic and social services to the Palestinian people, but in supporting viable institutions that will propel Palestinian development and self-sufficiency.
During his recent visit to the Palestinian Territories, Mr. Juan José Daboub, World Bank Managing Director, fulfilled our commitment to do more by signing three new project agreements worth US$25 million. These projects are: the Emergency Municipal Services Rehabilitation Project II; the Palestinian NGO Project III; and Additional Financing for the Bank’s existing Integrated Community Development Project.
These projects seek to support access to basic social and economic services in poor and marginalized communities in the West Bank and Gaza, including solid waste collection, street lighting, wastewater and electricity services, health services. They will also provide temporary job opportunities to unemployed Palestinians, and help sustain reliable mechanisms for delivery of emergency social services. At the same time, the projects are structured in such a way so as to build the capacity of local communities through job creation, and initiatives that will provide the basis for long term sustainability of these services.
These three new projects now raise the number of active World Bank programs to eleven, consisting of approximately
US$117 million in World Bank grants. In addition to this, our Managing Director also announced during his visit the
decision of the World Bank’s Board of Directors to extend an additional US$50 million grant for future projects to assist the Palestinian people.
The way ahead is a critical one, where the World Bank and other institutions must continue to do their utmost to ensure that the Palestinian people do not suffer through periods of uncertainty and conflict. More importantly, we must keep our eyes on the prize – the goal of building permanent and sustainable Palestinian structures to provide services to the people, and to manage a much needed economic development program. Such a program will only succeed if it is built on clear and transparent governance, the free movement and access of people and goods, and an open economy able to trade with all its neighbors and the world.
FULL REPORT:
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/UpdateMarch07.pdf https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/UpdateMarch07a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Publication, Report
Document Sources: World Bank
Subject: Assistance, Economic issues
Publication Date: 30/03/2007