Today, we arranged a public event in Jericho to highlight some of the water projects we are running there. USAID (The US governments aid organization, a bit like Swedish Sida) funds all of these projects, and they were supposed to take part in the event. But due to the worsening security situation in Gaza, they decided to cancel in the very last minute.

 

We went ahead anyway, and had a great time together with leading Palestinian politicians in the region, some Palestinian press and our partners. These kinds of affairs are somewhat superficial, but the projects are very real.

 

In one of them, we extend the water network to a village that never had running water in the houses before. When the project is ready, they will have plenty of clean water easily at hand in the tap at home – something that many of take for granted, but here it is a true luxury. Before, they had to go to the neighboring village with jerry cans to get water, or pump it up from open canals, frequently contaminated with dangerous bacteria from cattle and other sources.

So, days like this, it is very rewarding for us to see that the work we all put in really makes a difference for peoples lives.

 

The photo is from another water project, finished recently, where we improved the water network in a part of Jericho where the water pressure used to be to low, resulting in many citizens being out water for certain periods. However, this is not Palestinian politicians, but some of my colleagues from ANERA – from the left Ma’moun, Femke, Yara, Mohammed, Jubran, Jamal and Bill (ANERA’s president, temporary visiting from Washington).

 

I mentioned the security situation earlier. It is so sad to see how the extremists are blowing up the last fragile pieces of hope in Gaza. When more and more Palestinians there talk about that it would be nice to have the Israeli occupation back, you understand how bad it is.

Here in Jerusalem, everything is quiet, and so far in the rest of the West Bank as well, except for trouble spots Nablus and Jenin. After the event in Jericho (one of the most tranquil cities in the region) we drove our colleague Yara home to Ramallah. It was life-as-usual there when we drove through this evening.

 

Tomorrow, we are going to Ramallah again, to have a sort of opening party in our new office there. Bear in mind that this is a very local style of party, starting at eleven (in the morning that is) and only involving juice, cookies and snacks. But it will be fun anyway!