Ramallah: Head of Water Authority, Eng. Mazen Ghunaim, and Local Government Minister, Eng. Majdi Al-Saleh, signed today a memorandum of understanding on developing the readiness of local bodies providing water and sanitation services in the current state of declared emergency and any future emergency, in order to reduce the risks related to water quality and public health.

The Water Authority and the World Bank have prepared the "Guidelines for Emergency Water and sanitation Providers - response to the COVID-19 pandemic" document as the basis and approach for the preparation of the emergency plan by service providers to protect the population from water-borne diseases in general and during the Corona pandemic in particular. 

Within the framework of the joint cooperation between the Water Authority and the Ministry of Local Government, it is important that all local bodies providing water and sanitation services prepare and commit themselves to implementing a special emergency plan within their area of privilege. A framework has been developed to provide technical support to local bodies to prepare and implement the emergency plan and to keep it updated annually.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding complements the plan prepared by the Water Authority to meet emergency needs under the Corona pandemic.