Date: April 22, 2026
Abu Holi: The project constitutes a national priority amid the severe deterioration of infrastructure in Palestinian refugee camps
The Department of Refugee Affairs at the Palestine Liberation Organization held today the first meeting of the steering committee for the project “Developing Strategic Interventions to Improve Water and Sanitation Services in Palestinian Refugee Camps,” at the Department’s headquarters in the city of Ramallah, with the participation of representatives from the European Union, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Palestinian Water Authority, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in addition to experts from the Global Engineering and Consulting Group.
The meeting was opened by Dr. Ahmed Abu Holi, Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, who stressed that the project constitutes a national priority in light of the severe deterioration in infrastructure within Palestinian refugee camps, particularly water and sanitation networks, emphasizing the need to adopt sustainable strategic interventions that respond to the growing needs of refugees and strengthen their resilience.
He explained that the launch of this project reflects the vision of the Department of Refugee Affairs based on enhancing a strategic planning approach grounded in evidence, and transitioning from emergency responses to sustainable solutions based on accurate technical assessments, thereby contributing to improving the efficiency of water and sanitation sector management and enhancing the quality of services provided to Palestinian refugees.
He pointed out that the challenges facing the camps are not limited to this sector, but extend to other vital sectors such as health, education, and social services, amid increasing pressures, which requires the integration of national and international efforts to ensure the continuity of basic service provision.
He also stressed the central importance of the role undertaken by UNRWA, as the international entity responsible for providing basic services to refugees, in light of the political and financial challenges it faces, affirming that its mandate is based on international legitimacy resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 194, and that supporting it constitutes a fundamental element in the stability of services within the camps.
He further emphasized the importance of communication and strengthening joint work among all partners, and intensifying efforts to ensure the success of the project in a way that achieves a tangible impact on the lives of Palestinian refugees, expressing his gratitude to the European Union for funding the project.
In his remarks, the representative of the European Union, Mr. Andrea Ferrari-Bravo, stated that the EU’s support for the project comes within the framework of a strategic partnership with the Palestinian side, based on a participatory approach aimed at achieving sustainable developmental impact, emphasizing that the EU does not view its role merely as a donor, but as a partner in shaping solutions, strengthening governance, and setting priorities.
He noted that this project reflects the European Union’s commitment to supporting the improvement of water and sanitation services in Palestinian refugee camps, as they are among the vital sectors directly linked to public health and the environment.
For her part, the representative of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Eng. Doha Asleem, affirmed the importance of the project in directing investments toward vital sectors and enhancing the efficiency of resource utilization, thereby contributing to improving the economic and social conditions of Palestinian refugees and enhancing the sustainability of services provided to them.
In turn, the representative of the Palestinian Water Authority, Eng. Adel Yassin, stressed the importance of the project in light of the increasing challenges facing the water sector, particularly the scarcity of resources and the deterioration of distribution and sanitation networks, emphasizing the need to develop sustainable technical solutions that respond to population growth and support service continuity.
For his part, the Director of Infrastructure and Camp Improvement at UNRWA, Mr. John Wynn, stated that the initiative comes at a very critical time, in light of the difficult conditions experienced by Palestinian refugee camps, noting that camps established more than seven decades ago suffer from significant pressure on services and deteriorating infrastructure.
Wynn added that the project is aligned with UNRWA’s multi-year strategy and contributes to creating income-generating opportunities and improving livelihoods, thereby alleviating the burden on the Agency and service providers, affirming UNRWA’s readiness to provide technical support and coordinate with partners at various stages of implementation.
In turn, the Head of the Camp Improvement Programme at UNRWA, Viji Nikhira, indicated that the study comes at a critical time, as water and sanitation networks in many camps have exceeded their capacity due to population growth, emphasizing the importance of integrating solid waste management within the proposed solutions and strengthening concepts of sustainability and governance to ensure service continuity.
On behalf of the consulting team, Dr. Hafez Shaheen, representative of the Global Engineering and Consulting Group, explained that the project will include a comprehensive technical and social assessment, the development of an integrated database linked to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), in addition to developing governance frameworks and coordination mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of interventions.
The Project Executive Director, Eng. Shireen Nazzal, delivered a presentation on the project, reviewing its objectives, implementation plan, financial costs, technical committees, and the costs of project implementation.
She explained that the project aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure in refugee camps, identify gaps and needs, and develop an evidence-based strategic intervention plan that includes upgrading water and sanitation networks and enhancing the sustainable management of these services.
Participants discussed implementation mechanisms, including the formation of technical teams, the adoption of data collection tools, the preparation of periodic follow-up reports, in addition to organizing local workshops in the targeted countries to ensure broad participation in shaping the project outputs.
According to the timeline, the implementation phase is scheduled to begin next May, with the study continuing until September 2026, when a comprehensive report will be issued including findings, recommendations, an intervention plan, and estimated costs.
Participants also stressed the importance of enhancing coordination and information exchange among partners, building on previous studies and the roadmap developed in past years, and completing its phases that were affected by the current conditions.
