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Yousef Ibrahim Nasser, PhD and Rima Abu middain, MPH. Juzoor Foundation for Health and Social Development, POBox 17333, East Jerusalem, Palestine, ++ 972 2 2344677/8, juzoor@yahoo.com
Public health is intimately linked with adequate water supply and quality, and with adequate sanitation. Thus water security is linked to stability and long lasting peace in the Middle East. This presentation will give an overview of the Palestinian water resources and the existing water consumption patterns, including domestic, agricultural and industrial use in order to have an understanding of the Palestinian water sector. We will highlight the Palestinian communities’ access to water and sanitation services and the associated discrepancies in water quantity and quality. The most prevalent water born diseases in Palestine such as diahorrea and parasitic infestations will be discussed. It will give an overview of the national, local and community based plans and initiatives to address and tackle the water problems. Israeli policies and measures that restrict further development of the Palestinian water resources and control extractions at present levels will be addressed along with its implications on the water sector and economic development. Inequalities in water consumption between Israel and Palestine, in which the per capita consumption is a simple indicator, will be highlighted. For example Israeli consumption amounts to around 270 liters per person per day (l/capita/d), while Palestinian is around 93 l/capita/day in urban areas to less than 50 l/capita/day in rural areas (the WHO standards is 150 l/capita/day). Special attention will be given to the construction of the apartheid wall that has further reduced Palestinians’ access to water. The Apartheid wall has isolated a further 36 drinking and agricultural water wells .
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: , Environmental Justice
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: some of the information is collected from the palestine environmnetal network of non governmental organisations
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.