Project launched to engineer solutions to water challenges in Palestinian camps

AMMAN — The Netherlands and IHEDelft’s Partnership Programme for Water and Development (DUPC2), announced on Saturday the launch of a new project to find solutions to sanitation and water issues in Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan and Palestine. 

The project, which is being funded by The Netherlands and managed by IHEDelft, is a collaborative effort between Birzeit University in Palestine and Al Balqa Applied University in Jordan, according to a joint statement to The Jordan Times. The statement added that the plan is called “Water and sanitation solutions to the refugees: two cases from Jordan and Palestine” (WASAR). 

A two-day workshop to formulate the project was held last week with the participation of Jordanian and Palestinian stakeholders, students and DUPC2 committee member Nirajan Dhakal. Participants came up with a plan to develop a copyable model for rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment, and to pilot the model in both Jordan and Palestine.

Birzeit University professor Maher Abumadi presented WASAR’s action plan and challenges, and the project team discussed possible benefits on sanitation and community resilience, with input from stakeholders and students. 

A field visit to Gaza refugee camp near Jerash was also held to check the validity of project. The team and residents discussed the plan while exploring possible solutions to sanitation issues. 

At the end of the workshop, the project team expressed their appreciation to the professionals and students for contributing, and to IHEDelft, DUPC2 and the embassy of The Netherlands in Jordan.