RAMALLAH, Wednesday, February 05, 2020 (WAFA) – The European Union (EU) and Denmark have provided around €6 million for the implementation of 16 social and public infrastructure projects in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is under full Israel military rule, a statement released today by the EU said.

The contribution came through the European Union Area C Development Program in the West Bank.

The statement said that a steering committee meeting that included the Palestinian Minister of Local Government, Majdi al-Saleh, European Union Head of Cooperation, Gerhard Krause, and the Representative Office of Denmark in Ramallah was held at the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF) to review and endorse the selected localities and respective social and public infrastructure projects.

The fifth package of projects is expected to fund 16 social infrastructures in 15 localities across the West Bank, serving over 24,000 beneficiaries. The funded projects include schools, roads, multipurpose buildings, water distribution networks, water reservoirs and rehabilitation of electricity networks.

Israel does not allow Palestinian development in Area C, which makes over 60 percent of the area of the occupied West Bank, and has said that it will not even allow internationally-funded projects  in that area. Despite this threat, the EU insists on helping hard hit Palestinians living in Area C.

This contribution brings the total amount of the Area C Development Program to €15.2 million funded by the European Union and its Member States.

K.T./M.K.