Sana'a - Saba:
A meeting in the capital Sana'a on Tuesday, headed by Minister of Electricity, Energy and Water, Dr. Ali Mohammed, and attended by head of the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Program Peter Harvey discussed the level of partnership between the ministry and UNICEF and ways to develop and enhance it.
The meeting, which was attended by Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water Adel Bader, the Coordinator of the Water Cluster Eng. Tawfiq al-Haroush, and the technical team from the UNICEF Water Department, reviewed the obstacles facing the Water and Sanitation Department and proposed solutions and treatments.
The meeting touched on the organizational status of the water and sanitation sector after the merger of the Ministries of "Electricity and Water" into one ministry called the Ministry of Electricity, Energy and Water, and the partnership mechanism regarding the water, sanitation and renewable energy sectors.
The meeting discussed the possibility of making optimal use of the available funding provided by UNICEF to meet the needs and priorities of sustainable projects in a manner that achieves the principle of transparency and equal partnership.
It also touched on the projects implemented by UNICEF within the framework of the 2023-2024 two-year plan, the projects that could not be implemented and the possibility of seeking funding to complete them, in addition to the aspects related to preparing the 2025 plan by the teams of the Ministry of Electricity and Water and UNICEF.
In the meeting, the Minister of Electricity, Energy and Water stressed the keenness to enhance aspects of cooperation with the organization, considering UNICEF the main partner for the water and environmental sanitation sector in Yemen.
The meeting stressed the need to implement priority projects and actual needs in the most needy areas, which requires doubling UNICEF's support for the state and government's efforts to advance the water and environmental sanitation sector and enhance environmental health to reduce the spread of diseases and epidemics.
Minister Ali Saif expressed hope that UNICEF would play its role and bear the responsibility entrusted to it regarding supporting the continuation of the units that were established with the organization's funding to alleviate the suffering of citizens, especially in light of the continued repercussions of aggression and siege.
The Minister pointed out the importance of activating cooperation and partnership between the ministry and UNICEF, regarding supporting the repair of the sewage treatment plant in the capital, Sana'a, which is a hotbed for the spread of diseases and epidemics, which requires supporting its expansion and rehabilitation to accommodate sewage waste and treat it to benefit from it in irrigation and generating renewable energy.
He urged the water sector team at the Ministry of Electricity, Energy and Water to sit with the UNICEF team to review the 2023-2024 plan, the extent of its implementation and the reasons for the failure of some projects and to set a timetable for implementing the remaining previous projects, in addition to preparing for the 2025 plan.
The Minister of Electricity and Water noted UNICEF's support for the water and sanitation sector during the past period, expressing hope for continued support and intensified communication with donors to finance projects that would improve the conditions of the water sector.
In turn, the Deputy Minister of Electricity, Energy and Water confirmed that UNICEF is a pioneer in supporting humanitarian projects in Yemen, especially those related to the water and sanitation sector.
He explained that the partnership between the ministry and UNICEF for decades has been built on humanitarian work and has achieved great successes on the ground, and we look forward to developing it in the future.
He said, "We hope to improve and develop relations with UNICEF, under the new leadership of the Ministry of Electricity, Energy and Water, and to maintain the organization's leadership and dominance in supporting humanitarian projects in Yemen, especially those related to the water and sanitation sector, which represents the launch of a real partnership between the ministry and the organization."
The Deputy Minister of Electricity and Water also confirmed that the ministry will be a supporter and backer of the organization in implementing sustainable projects and emergency interventions that serve the citizen and alleviate his suffering, and support efforts to combat diseases and epidemics resulting from environmental pollution.
For his part, UNICEF's Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Mr. Peter Harvey, expressed UNICEF's pride in the level of partnership with Yemen in humanitarian fields, including the water and sanitation sector.
He explained that UNICEF's work is limited to humanitarian work and supporting sustainable development efforts in various countries of the world, including Yemen, in light of the current conditions it is going through.
Peter Harvey attributed the decline in support for water and sanitation projects over the past four years to the decline in donor funding.. pointing to the organization's efforts to expand areas of support and attract more donors to support sustainable projects in Yemen and benefit from climate change funding through the Green Fund.
He pointed out that Yemen is one of the countries most affected by climate change and necessarily receives appropriate support allocated for this purpose, according to a strategy and priority agreed upon between UNICEF and those concerned with the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Environment.
He stressed UNICEF's commitment to supporting projects with a positive impact, especially those related to infrastructure projects for the water and environmental sanitation sectors, disease and epidemic control, and expanding areas of support for emergency response projects, noting that the organization has prepared a roadmap for the water sector in Yemen, which will be reviewed with those concerned in the ministry to begin searching for funding and preparing a mechanism for its implementation.
| more of (Local) |