Today's Edition
WAEL BADRAN (RAFAH)
The United Arab Emirates inaugurated a new seawater desalination plant on Tuesday in Rafah, Egypt, strategically located on the border with the Gaza Strip. This state-of-the-art facility, with a daily capacity of 600,000 gallons, is set to significantly benefit the residents of Gaza.
The opening ceremony saw the presence of a United Nations Security Council delegation, highlighting the plant’s significance. The UAE fully funded this vital project.
Her Excellency Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, highlighted the efficiency of the project during the inauguration. She remarked that the plant was assembled in just two days following the arrival of its parts, underscoring the remarkable speed of its completion.
“The installation of the station was completed in record time to help the residents of the Gaza Strip face the water shortage crisis,” Nusseibeh said during the inauguration.
Nusseibeh pointed out the logistical difficulties and high costs associated with transporting water to Gaza by trucks, which led to the strategic decision to establish this desalination plant. The project comprises three desalination stations, each with a 200,000-gallon capacity, cumulatively processing 600,000 gallons daily.
Emirati engineer Mohammed Al Rashidi, the project director, revealed that the UAE’s company “Pal” spearheaded the project in collaboration with Egypt’s “Water Engineering” firm.
Al Rashidi explained that each station includes two containers and operates using a reverse osmosis system. This advanced technology draws seawater, which is then purified through specialised membranes, ensuring a reliable supply of drinkable water.
Al Rashidi emphasised the UAE’s commitment to this project, driven by the urgent need to provide water to Gaza’s residents, who face a critical drinking water shortage. He noted the strategic choice to establish the plant on the Egyptian side of Rafah, primarily due to the deteriorated water network in the Gaza sector, making it necessary to rely on the Egyptian side to ensure effective and efficient water pumping to the sector.
This location ensures effective and efficient water delivery to the area, addressing a crucial need for its inhabitants. Members of the Security Council praised the UAE’s efforts.
