European and German funding secures pound 6 million for Area C development

RAMALLAH: RAMALLAH, September 17, 2024 (WAFA) - Under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, the seventh package of the Area C Development Program was signed today at the Prime Minister's office in Ramallah. The new tranche, totaling pound 6 million, is funded by the European Union and the German government through the German Development Bank. The agreement was signed by Minister of Local Governance Sami Hajeawi, European Union Representative to Palestine Alexandre Stutzmann, German Representative to Palestine Oliver Owcza, and the Director-General of the Local Development and Loan Fund, Mohammad Al-Ramahi. This seventh tranche of the Area C Development Program continues a series of previous initiatives funded since 2015 by a consortium of donors including the EU, Denmark, the French Development Agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the UK government, and the German government. The Local Development and Loan Fund is responsible for managing the funds and implementing project s in coordination with the Ministry of Local Governance. Alexandre Stutzmann, the EU Representative to Palestine, emphasized the broader significance of the support. "This assistance is not only for new buildings or infrastructure but to maintain hope from Gaza to Jenin," he said. "It is crucial for reinforcing the Palestinian presence in Area C, now more than ever." Stutzmann further noted, "Area C constitutes the largest portion of the occupied Palestinian territories, making up about 60% of the West Bank and housing over 300,000 Palestinians. It is essential for the geographical continuity of the West Bank and a future Palestinian state. Clearly, without Area C, a viable Palestinian state would not be possible." Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA