Damascus, Dec. 18 (SANA) The Damascus Authority for Drinking Water on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to improve water access in the city of al-Malihah, Damascus countryside. The project is supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
The agreement includes the construction of a new 300-cubic-meter elevated water tank, the rehabilitation of another tank of the same capacity in the western part of the town, and the connection of both to the local water network. Officials say the project will provide drinking water to more than 70,000 residents and reduce pressure on Damascus’s primary water sources, the Fijeh and Barada springs.
Deputy Minister of Energy for Water Resources, Engineer Osama Abu Zeid, noted that the support from the King Salman Center is crucial for rehabilitating water networks damaged over years of war and for creating conditions for the return of displaced residents. He said roughly 60% of the drinking water infrastructure in affected areas has been damaged.
Hiroshi Takabayashi, Director of UN-Habitat in Syria and Lebanon, said the project will improve access to safe drinking water and praised the King Salman Center for its experience in humanitarian work.
Al-Malihah’s water infrastructure has been severely damaged for years, limiting residents’ access to safe drinking water. The Ministry of Energy, together with international partners, is working to restore water networks and improve water security, which is expected to stabilize local communities and support the return of displaced families.
