A setting shaped by lasting constraints

In Palestine, HAMAP-Humanitaire has been called on for more than 10 years by French local authorities to carry out cooperation work with the Palestinian authorities, with the aim of improving access to water and sanitation.

These missions must constantly adapt to a complex geopolitical setting that directly affects the management of water resources and the delivery of projects. Thanks to the continued support of its funders, the organisation is pursuing its commitment alongside local partners and communities.

Jalboun: severely constrained access to water

Since 2020 several partners, including the Aude department, the Rhone Mediterranee Corse water agency, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and HAMAP-Humanitaire, have been working with the municipality of Jalboun, an isolated village in the north of the West Bank.

A critical water situation

  • A village of 3,300 people with no water distribution network
  • Reliance on tanker trucks
  • Limited access to local water resources
  • Infrastructure weakened by the conflict

The conflict has made the situation worse, with more checkpoints and damage to infrastructure.

A local testimony

Hani, our partner on site, points out that:

  • Water infrastructure is regularly damaged
  • The water transported does not always meet health standards
  • Storage conditions expose the water to pollution
  • The health consequences affect children in particular

A project on hold but still in prospect

A project to build a water tower and a network was under way with the Palestinian Authority, with the aim of connecting the whole village.

Initial objectives

  • Setting up a public water service
  • Exchanging skills with local actors
  • Universal access to drinking water for the population

The war, however, interrupted the works:

  • The site was suspended
  • Equipment was requisitioned
  • The contractor was unable to continue

Despite these obstacles, the partners remain mobilised. A reorientation of the project is under consideration in order to:

  • Complete the water tower
  • Lay the first sections of the network
  • Meet the urgent needs of residents

Beit Fajjar: a structured, long-term cooperation

Since 2018 the commune of Lescar, several water boards, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the Adour Garonne water agency, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and HAMAP-Humanitaire have supported the town of Beit Fajjar, home to some 14,000 people.

What the first phases achieved

  • A master plan drawn up
  • A 100 m³ reservoir built
  • The network extended and renovated
  • Booster pumps installed
  • More than 9 km of pipes laid
  • 600 telemetric water meters installed

Strengthening local capacity

  • Exchanges between elected officials and technical staff
  • Training in water management
  • Study visits to France
  • Support for local governance

A third phase looking to the future

The cooperation continues with a new phase under way, despite a difficult context.

Main areas of work

  • Continuing the network extension works
  • Replacing water meters
  • Buying equipment for the local water authority
  • Launching a sanitation assessment

One aim is to develop a collective sanitation system in the longer term, to address the current health challenges.

Beitunia: a long-standing cooperation

The partnership with the town of Beitunia is the oldest that HAMAP-Humanitaire has run in Palestine, serving nearly 40,000 people.

What has been done

  • Rehabilitation and extension of the water network
  • Work in administratively restricted areas
  • Replacement of ageing pipes
  • Renovation of a 500 m³ reservoir
  • Technical studies on water and sanitation needs

Sanitation challenges

  • No collective network
  • Wastewater removed by truck
  • Risks of pollution and health impacts

A local testimony

Nael, our partner on site, reports that:

  • Access to water resources is severely limited
  • The quantities available have fallen
  • Tensions are appearing between users
  • Some residents have to turn to unsafe sources
  • The cost of water has risen

A geopolitical setting that directly affects access to water

Access to water in Palestine is deeply shaped by structural constraints:

  • Control of water resources
  • Restrictions on drilling and abstraction
  • Dependence on existing infrastructure
  • Access difficulties linked to controlled areas
  • Checkpoints and security constraints

These factors limit the development of self-reliant solutions and slow humanitarian work down.

A commitment maintained despite the constraints

Despite an unstable context, HAMAP-Humanitaire is continuing its work with its partners in order to:

  • Guarantee access to water
  • Improve infrastructure
  • Strengthen local skills
  • Support local authorities in managing resources sustainably

Maintaining this commitment rests on international cooperation and on the support of our partners, so that people's essential needs are met and their fundamental right to water is preserved.