JENIN, CARE International in the West Bank and Gaza has expanded its water sector activities to implement the project entitled 'Improving minimum access to safe water to conflict affected communities in the occupied Palestinian territory.'

Funded from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the project targets six watery needy communities in Jenin Governorate in the West Bank. The project was launched on February 1st and will continue until July 30th, 2010.

The overall goal of the project is to improve access to water for conflict-affected households with minimal access to safe water. With support from AusAID, the project targets 3,500 people in Rummana, Anin, Khirbet Mas'ud, Imreiha, Khirbet Makhul, and Al Attara; areas that face challenges in meeting basic household needs of water, especially with the declining household incomes and the escalating water prices due to the scarcity of water in the region.

CARE will install around 5,840 meters of water pipes, distribute 3,210 cubic meters of domestic water, and distribute 12 water storage tanks to target beneficiaries. CARE is implementing this project in coordination with Joint Service Council for water and wastewater in Jenin western villages and with the Palestinian Water Authority.