RAMALLAH, October 31, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Authority Monday signed a cooperation agreement with the German government to support two water treatment projects in the northern West Bank cities of Tulkarm and Nablus.

Three million euros will be added, through this agreement, to the total value of the Tulkarm regional water treatment project, reaching a total value of 16 million euros.

The project includes the establishing of 35 kilometer long internal water supply systems in targeted areas, to connect them to a 15 kilometer long major water carrier reaching the water treatment station in the western part of Tulkarm.

Another three million euros will be added to the overall amount of the Nablus water treatment project, reaching a total value of 17.3 million euros.

The project aims to solve the water shortage problems in Nablus through extending the water pipelines carrying water by a total of 15.6 kilometers, extending the water distribution networks and establishing water tanks and pumps at specified locations in Nablus.

The agreement was signed by Palestinian Minister of Planning and Administrative Development Ali Jarbawi and mayors of Tulkarm and Nablus with the director of the German Development Bank in Ramallah.

Al Jarbawi considered these aids a continuation of the fruitful Palestinian-German relations.

This grant is part of 42.5 million euros of Germany’s development aid to Palestine in 2011, distributed in several vital sectors, particularly on local governance, water and treating wastewater.

T.R./F.J.