Brussels, 20/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 September the European Commission approved new financial support for Egypt of €10 million in order to improve access to drinking water and sanitation for 15 million Egyptians. The aid will go towards improving construction and renovation of the infrastructure needed to supply water, such as mechanical equipment and pipelines, as well as technical assistance including financial planning and project management.
The rate of coverage of drinking water supply should reach 95% and that of sanitation and environmentally-friendly wastewater services 40% in both urban and rural areas in the four provinces (governorates) of Assiut, Minia, Qena and Sohag.
This new funding is the first contribution from a European initiative on water in Egypt of €303 million, which includes the main European financial institutions. A second contribution of €13 million will also be supplied by the European Commission, with the Neighbourhood Investment Facility. (CG/transl.fl)