The Qatar Development Fund has signed up to back Middle East Desalination Research Center (MERDC) projects in Palestine and Jordan.
The Qatar fund will support training of Palestinian and Jordanian water specialists; MEDRC evaluation and support of small scale desalination and water treatment units in the Jordan Valley; and a desalination and water treatment maintenance program for desalination plants in Gaza.
MEDRC chairman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said: “Qatar is an extremely important MEDRC member, not least because of its world renowned commitment to research and innovation. Through MEDRC Oman and Qatar work together to find solutions to fresh water scarcity by supporting research and training in new desalination technologies. Today’s agreement will see Qatar support a series of development cooperation projects that will assist the Palestinian and Jordanian water sectors further develop their expertise it this vital area. This support will make a very real difference and I thank Qatar’s Development Fund for their generosity.”
H.E. Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Sultanate of Oman said: “”We are pleased to provide this support which is a continuation of our previous contributions as we believe in the importance of the work of the Centre. The State of Qatar values its membership in MEDRC and thanks Oman for hosting the center. We are proud to work together with our other partners and are delighted to support these development cooperation activities in Palestine and Jordan. The Qatar Development Fund will assist officials, engineers and technicians further develop the capacity necessary to help overcome the challenges facing the region’s water sector.”
MEDRC director H.E. Ciarán Ó Cuinn said: “Qatar is one of the world’s leading supporters for technical innovators in water and the interlinked area of food security. In that context we are honored at the initiative of Qatar to support MEDRCs Technical Water Sector Capacity Building Program.”