• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     Mediterranean Day
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2021 Regional Integration
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
      • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
    • UfM in the Media

      23 November – mena.org.eg – السفير ناصر كامل لـ(أ ش أ): اختيار عاصمة ثقافية من شمال المتوسط وأخرى من الجنوب
      View article
      24 November – La Presse – 7e Forum Régional de l’Union Pour la Méditerranée : Les capitales culturelles et la jeunesse de la Méditerranée au menu
      View article
      24 November – DW – An Inside Europe special celebrating the Day of the Mediterranean
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

UfM presents the Gaza Desalination Project at the 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm

Water & Environment

Stockholm, 29 August, 2012 – On the occasion of the World Water Week, held in Stockholm from 26 to 31 August, the UfM and the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), represented by the Minister of Water, Dr. Shaddad Attili, organized a side-event to present the UfM labelled project for a Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip.

The panel speakers included Mr. Ioannis Kaltsas, from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which provides technical assistance through the preparation of a Project Information Memorandum for encouraging donors; Mr. Henrik Slotte, from the UNEP, which provides consultation and technical assistance on the Environmental issues; Eng. Rebhy El-Sheikh as Deputy Head of the Palestinian Water Authority, who presented the project and the results of the EIB’s review and first phase report; Dr. Husseini, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Environment and Water; and Dr. Attili.

During the panel debate, the speakers underlined that the importance of this project lies not only in the concrete benefits  it will bring to a population of 1.65 million people, but it gathers a consortium of Arab, European and non-European donors to cooperate together in achieving such a life giving  project. The deteriorating situation of the aquifer has a clear health impact, noting especially Blue Baby Syndrome due to Nitrate poisoning. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) recommends that all young children should be provided only bottled water.

The Gaza Desalination Project at the World Water Week: more vital than ever for the Gaza population and the stability of the region’s environment.

The side-event was held just a day after a report was released by the United Nations offices working in Palestine, under the striking interrogating title “Gaza, A liveable place by 2020?” and highlights the longer-term effects and implications of current developmental and social trends and challenges affecting the Gaza Strip.  Water remains one of the most alarming aspects in this synthesis report. The reports reminds that the aquifer will be unusable by 2016, and irreversibly damaged by 2020; It stresses the urgency to advance the project, one of the unique infrastructure solutions identified to bring safe drinking water to the growing 1.65 million population and save the restoration of the damaged aquifer, notwithstanding other vital interventions such as wastewater treatment.

Read more about the Gaza Project

The World Water Week

The World Water Week is hosted and organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and takes place each year in Stockholm. The World Water Week has been the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues since 1991.

Related News

  • 28.08.2012Revolve Magazine wins WASH Media Award for a special report on Water published in association with the UfM
Share this:

Latest news

UfM joints first Steering Committee of the Plan of Action for a Model Mediterranean Sea by 2030 (PAMEx)
24 / 01 / 2023
UfM and EMUNI deliver a series of webinars on Science Diplomacy and Sustainability
22 / 12 / 2022
See more

Agenda

UfM Transport Ministerial Meeting
09 / 02 / 2023
Public consultation in view of the 1st Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education
15 / 02 / 2023
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-financé par l'Union européenne  -  Cookie Privacy  |  Privacy Privacy  |  Legal notice
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */

 

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.


3rd Party Cookies

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Cookies Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read more

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!