Blue Deal partnership with Palestinian Water Authority exchanges COVID-19 knowledge

Since 2019, the Dutch Water Authorities are supporting the Palestinian Water Authority via the Blue Deal Programme. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, travelling to the Palestinian Territories is no longer possible. However, the Dutch Water Authorities keep on providing immediate advice and support on how to best deal with the COVID-19 crisis from a distance.

Water is scarce in the Palestinian Territories. The whole region is water stressed, but circumstances in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are particularly difficult for managing water resources due to the challenging political climate in which the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) has to operate. Established in 1995, it is the main government agency in charge of water resource management in the Palestinian Territories. One of its key objectives is to expand and improve drinking water and wastewater services in the fast growing villages and cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Especially sewerage and wastewater treatment are currently far below standards or even completely absent in some towns and neighbourhoods. Significant investments are needed to build the required infrastructure, but that's not enough. There is also a shortage of relevant knowledge, experience and skills to manage water resources and improve water and wastewater services sustainably .

Since 2019, the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) are assisting and advising the Palestinian Water Authority in water sector reform, as part of the Blue Deal programme of the Dutch Water Authorities. It's a relative small cooperation programme, consisting of a small group of Dutch experts from Dutch Water Authorities Waternet and Vechtstromen that assist and advise the Palestinian Water Authority staff on technical, financial and organisational aspects. The programme was getting well underway, when COVID-19 also hit the Palestinian Territories and the country effectively came into lock-down. Since then, the Palestinian Water Authority is struggling to fight COVID-19 and deal with the required measures.

Now that field visits are temporarily not possible, DWA continues their support to PWA online

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, travelling to the Palestinian Territories is impossible. But that hasn't stopped the Dutch experts from working with their colleagues in the Palestinian Territories. Moreover, the focus has shifted towards providing immediate advice and support to the Palestinian Water Authority in their efforts to ensure safety and to fight COVID-19. For example, by sharing and customizing the first scientific insights from The Netherlands about COVID-19 in wastewater and the emergency measures that Dutch Water Authorities have taken to prevent further spreading of COVID-19 by staff and through wastewater. Furthermore, the group of experts from The Netherlands is currently looking into possibilities to mobilise unique wastewater treatment technology solutions from The Netherlands that could ensure proper treatment of wastewater from a number of hospitals in the West Bank. Moreover, a number of companies from The Netherlands have already offered their help.

The current crisis underlines the value and importance of the Blue Deal partnership programme. Also from a distance, Dutch water experts are in close contact with their Palestinian colleagues, keeping an open line of online communication for moral support and all kinds of questions that emerge in the fight against corona. The partnership programme has quickly adapted to the new circumstances and challenges facing the Palestinian Water Authority. In times like this, even a small team of experts from Dutch Water Authorities can provide much appreciated help, support and advice. In a country almost completely cut off from the rest of the world, such support is highly appreciated.