Date: 11/1/2026
Abu Holi: The Project Will Serve as a Key Lever for Developing Infrastructure and Achieving a Fundamental Upgrade of Water and Sanitation Services in Palestinian Refugee Camps
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Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, signed today (Sunday), together with the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Istfan Salameh, a financing agreement for the project entitled “Study for the Development of Strategic Interventions to Improve Water and Sanitation Services in Palestinian Refugee Camps,” funded by the European Union with a total value of approximately €480,000.
Dr. Abu Holi stated that the project will be implemented by the Department of Refugee Affairs in coordination and cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Finance and Planning, UNRWA, and the relevant authorities in the Arab host countries for refugees. He explained that the project aims to prepare a comprehensive study to assess the current management of water and sanitation services, their administrative efficiency, and sustainability in Palestinian refugee camps. The study will also examine infrastructure development needs and priorities, with the objective of identifying strategic solutions to improve the level of water and sanitation services provided to refugees, developing a priority plan for urgent and emergency humanitarian interventions, and ensuring a healthy environment in the targeted camps in Palestine and the host countries (Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon).
Dr. Abu Holi clarified that fieldwork for the project will officially commence on 25 July 2026 and is scheduled for completion on 25 April 2027. He noted that the project is distinguished by its broad regional dimension, taking into account the needs of Palestinian refugees, as it targets refugee camps in Palestine (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip), Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, with a particular focus on 22 vital camps suffering from severe infrastructure deterioration and serious environmental challenges.
He affirmed that the project will constitute a fundamental lever for rehabilitating dilapidated infrastructure and achieving a qualitative and comprehensive upgrade of water and sanitation services, thereby establishing a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment for refugee communities within the camps and reducing environmental risks that threaten public safety. He further explained that the project’s outputs will enhance evidence-based planning and guide future investments in the water and sanitation sectors in the camps, positively impacting public health and the environment, while strengthening integration and coordination among relevant national institutions.
Dr. Abu Holi pointed out that the true significance of this project goes beyond its technical framework, as it does not represent merely a short-term intervention. Rather, it forms a cornerstone that will pave the way for sustainable, long-term infrastructure projects. Its precise outputs will provide a systematic planning foundation that encourages and motivates international donors and development partners to channel the necessary funding toward vital infrastructure projects in Palestinian refugee camps, both at home and in the diaspora, thereby ensuring a direct and fundamental improvement in the quality of services over the long term.
He added that the beneficiaries of the project include all relevant stakeholders, starting with refugee communities in the camps most affected by infrastructure deterioration and sanitation crises, and extending to ministries and governmental and local authorities in Palestine and the host countries (Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria). These entities will be able to integrate the strategic plans into their sectoral visions to meet basic water needs. In this context, the project will also rationalize and enhance the efficiency of UNRWA’s interventions by directing them toward well-defined and carefully studied priorities. At the same time, service providers, camp committees, and municipalities will benefit from practical recommendations enabling them to develop and manage vital facilities and rehabilitate deteriorated assets effectively, ensuring service sustainability.
For his part, Dr. Salameh expressed his appreciation for the continued support provided by the European Union to the State of Palestine, particularly in vital sectors, affirming that funding this project reflects a firm commitment to improving the living conditions of refugees in camps at home and in the diaspora and to supporting national efforts to develop essential services.
Both sides reaffirmed that the refugee issue remains at the top of the national, political, and humanitarian priorities of the Palestinian leadership and government. They emphasized that upgrading basic services—foremost among them the water and sanitation sector—is not merely a service-related measure, but rather an inherent commitment to safeguarding the rights of refugees and a fundamental pillar for strengthening their resilience and preserving their human dignity, thereby ensuring a decent standard of living that honors their sacrifices and improves their living conditions in the face of all challenges.
