JERUSALEM, April 5, 2018 (WAFA) - The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Jerusalem and the Government of Japan agreed on Thursday to join efforts in a project entitled “Reconstructing and strengthening the electricity supply system in Gaza with renewable energy” to support the installation of a solar photovoltaic system for Gazan households with the award of a new grant under Japan’s supplementary budget.

The project, which is in line with the strong commitment of the Government of Japan to improving electricity supply in Gaza, valued at $1.5 million will support the solar system project to create a reliable and sustainable access to an electricity source for households.

This project comes in the context of the overall deterioration in conditions in the Gaza Strip following the worsening of an electricity crisis that has left Gaza with an average of only four to six hours of electricity per day, severely disrupting daily life and the provision of basic services.

This project, to be implemented by UNOPS on behalf of the Government of Japan, is expected to benefit, as well as improve the economic and humanitarian welfare for more than 125 households in Gaza.

UNOPS has developed an Environmental Management System (EMS), an ISO 14001 certified system, for physical infrastructure work, which helps to incorporate measures needed to minimize any negative impacts and strengthen the environmental benefits.

Tokumitsu Kobayashi, UNOPS Jerusalem Office Director, highlighted the importance of this project.  “This project would contribute to the Palestinian Authority’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan that aims to achieve 10% of domestic electricity generation to come from renewable energy by 2020.”

UNOPS’ Jerusalem Office has been working in Gaza with government partners and UN agencies since 2014 to respond to residents’ needs and the humanitarian crisis focusing on the longer-term impact.

M.K.