AID grant no. ANE-0159-G-00-0016-00 to the United Nations Development Program to construct part of a new sewage collection system in Gebalia

The grant will support the UNDP"s Sewage Treatment and Effluent Recycling for the Northern Region of the Gaza Strip Project. The UNDP will replace the Gebalia area"s present network of unsanitary open drains and sewers with underground sewer lines connected to the area"s shelter units, schools, and other public buildings. The new sewer network will be a gravity flow system and will use locally manufactured asbestos cement and PVC pipes. Construction of the sewer network will be undertaken by Palestinian firms under four separate contracts with the UNDP. Before the start of construction, a community orientation program will acquaint area families with the objectives and benefits of the program, which is expected to significantly reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and infant mortality.