Germany and UNDP inaugurate Qalandia stadium and initiate road project – UNDP press release

PRESS RELEASE

The Government of Germany and UNDP Inaugurate the Qalandia Stadium and

initiate the Qalandia Road Project

H.E. Samir Abdallah, Minister of Planning, Mr. Joerg Ranau, German Representative to the PA, Mr. Michael Plesch, Head of the German Development Cooperation, Dr. Mohammad Shtayeh, President PECDAR, and Mr. Jens Toyberg Frandzen, UNDP special Representative, marked the completion of the Qalandia Stadium and Youth Centre at Qalandia Refugee Camp on Tuesday 17^th July 2007.

The ceremony also included a symbolic asphalting of the Qalandia Road Intersection and laying down of pipes to initiate the water network project. The ceremony was followed by a football match between the Refugee Camp team and a joint German/UNDP team.

The construction of the stadium, worth €225,000 and generating approximately 1600 workdays, is part of the third phase of the Employment Generation Programme, funded by the Government of Germany through its development Bank, KfW. The project included the construction of an Olympic size football field, youth and sports centre, and spectator stands that can hold up to 500 people. Over 1000 youth from the camp will benefit from this project.

The Qalandia Road project will include the reconstruction of approximately 600 meters, in both directions, of the road connecting the Qalandia crossing point and the entrance of the Qalandia refugee camp and is expected to be completed in 5 months.

“The three projects clearly demonstrate Germany’s commitment to the welfare and development of the Palestinian People”, said Mr. Ranau.

“UNDP is proud of repairing the Qalandia road. Its economic importance is unparalleled.” Said Mr. Toyberg-Frandzen. “The People here, especially children, deserve a stadium and a youth facility to enjoy their free time and football games. Maybe one day a Palestinian Zidan will emerge from Qalandia and become a role model for all Palestinian Children”. He added.

Through the German Employment Generation Programme, UNDP is also executing the rehabilitation of the Qalandia camp water network with a grant worth €74,000. As part of this project, the Jerusalem Water undertaking will lay 3,100 meters of water pipes, benefiting approximately 15,000 people in the Qalandia area.

During this German Employment Generation Programme (EGP), a €16 million grant funded some 161 projects throughout the West Bank, generating to date an estimated 150,000 working days. In total, the Government of Germany has funded, through KfW and executed by UNDP, 456 projects through 5 phases of the EGP programme, generating over 650,000 workdays.

For further information, please contact:

German Representative Office: Alexander Eberl, Press Officer Tel: 02-2984788, Fax: 02-2984786 Mobile:

0577206891, alexander.eberl@diplo.de

UNDP/PAPP: Dania Darwish, Communications Officer, Tel: 02-6268229, Fax: 02-6268222, Mobile: 054-8173936,

dania.darwish@undp.org