European Union Representative Visits Gaza – Press Release

Today, the EU Representative Ralph Tarraf visited Gaza. He inaugurated EU-funded projects, visited an UNRWA school, and met with Palestinian officials. This visit sends a signal of support of the European Union to the process which started with the signing of the recent agreement between Hamas and Fatah in Cairo.

“The EU is aware of the important period ahead to make genuine progress on the intra-Palestinian reconciliation. We hope that this process will lead to the Palestinian Authority assuming its full responsibilities in Gaza,” said EU Representative Ralph Tarraf during his visit. “We stood by the people of Gaza in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future. The people in Gaza have a right to a better future. The EU remains ready to support the efforts to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under one single and legitimate Palestinian Authority, “he added.

During the visit, EU Representative Tarraf, together with Jonas Blume, Director KFW (German Development Bank) and Minister Mazin Ghunaim, Head of the Palestinian Water Authority, inaugurated a sewage network extension project. This 3.5 million Euro project will improve sanitation collection systems to serve up to 130,000 Palestinians in the municipalities of Beit Lahia, Jabalia and Deir Al-Balah in Gaza.

The EU Representative visited also an UNRWA facility, Al-Falah school, located in Gaza, where he met with students and UNRWA officials.

EU Representative also met with the Minister of Public Works Mufeed Al Hasayneh where they discussed the recent developments in Gaza.

The EU remains the largest donor in the Gaza Strip (both in terms of humanitarian and development support). Since 2005, the EU delivered around €1.5 billion of support to Gaza strip.

For more information, please contact:

The Office of the European Union Representative

Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958), Inas Abu Shirbi (02 541 5 859, 0599 673 957) http://eeas.europa.eu/palestine