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RAMALLAH, September 11, 2012 (WAFA) - Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority Junya Matsuura, and Mayor of Birzeit Yousef Nasser signed a $114,958 grant contract of the project for 'Rehabilitation and Extension of the Water Network in Birzeit City', Tuesday said a press release by Representative Office of Japan in Ramallah.

The project aims to replace around 1,570 meters of corroded and holed pipes in the old water network in al-Marj district and replace the current temporary plastic pipes of 1,330 meters approximately with permanent pipelines, to cover 200 households (1000 people) and one school of 250 students in the same district, said the release.

The release said this project will strengthen the water pressure in the entire network in that area and thus increase the supply of water to all Birzeit citizens.

Matsuura emphasized Japan’s firm commitment of supporting Palestinian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities.

The signing ceremony of the project, funded by the Government of Japan through Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), was held in the Representative Office of Japan to PA in Ramallah, and attended by Special Advisor to the Minister of State and Head of Aid Management and Coordination Directorate in (MoPAD) Estephan Salameh.

Since 1993, Japan has provided more than $1.25 billion to Palestinians, including its assistance through GGP to more than 320 projects with its total amount of about $23 million. GGP projects have been formulated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority through MoPAD since 2010.

T.R./F.R.