Expanded ministerial delegation inspects Jenin Governorate to boost citizens' steadfastness and follow up on government projects

SadaNews - Following directives from Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and as part of monitoring the progress of government projects and bolstering citizens' steadfastness in Jenin Governorate, an expanded ministerial delegation, including the Ministers of Interior, Justice, Local Government, Economy, Transport, and Tourism, alongside the Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, the Secretary-General assigned to the Cabinet, the Head of the Energy Authority, the Head of the Environmental Quality Authority, and several ministry deputies and government officials, conducted an extensive field tour of the governorate today, Thursday, to assess citizens' needs and follow up on the implementation of a series of developmental and service projects in various villages and towns of the governorate.

The delegation began its visit with a large meeting at the governorate headquarters with representatives of official and civil institutions, local activities, the private sector, universities, and national figures, to discuss the most pressing needs of the governorate and the challenges it faces.

The visit included a series of sectoral meetings with local activities and institutions, which comprised a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and economic stakeholders to discuss the reality of the economic sector and ways to support it, and a meeting with local councils and mayors to discuss priorities for services and projects, in addition to a meeting with popular committees to review the conditions of the camps and their needs. There was also a meeting with members of the joint council for the "Zahret Al-Finjan" waste dump to assess the status of the site and mechanisms for its development.

The tour witnessed several field visits and sectoral interventions, where the Ministry of Transport and Communications worked on completing the licensing procedures for agricultural tractors in the town of Arraba and its surrounding villages, enhancing the steadfastness of farmers and providing legal protection for their machinery in light of the assaults by the occupation and settlers. The minister also monitored the workflow at the Traffic Department and the dynamometer center.

As part of supporting the most vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Social Development oversaw the distribution of assistive devices and wheelchairs for several individuals with disabilities, and visited the women's and girls' protection center to review its readiness for operation, alongside a visit to the Social Development Directorate in the governorate.

The Minister of Local Government inspected ongoing infrastructure projects in the city, alongside visiting the Local Government Directorate and Jenin Municipality, while the Minister of Tourism reviewed the restoration work of the Jenin Municipality Library and the Abou Rab Courtyard in the town of Jalboun, as well as several other tours.

Government efforts continue to implement and complete a package of developmental and service projects in Jenin Governorate, aimed at enhancing the steadfastness of citizens, improving infrastructure and essential services, and supporting recovery and development efforts across various sectors.

In the sector of local government, the government is working on the implementation of 106 developmental projects in Jenin Governorate valued at over 32 million dollars, supported by various donors, primarily Arab and Islamic funds and international donors through the Municipal Development Fund. This also includes developing the solid waste management system by expanding the "Zahret Al-Finjan" dump by constructing new cells and rehabilitating existing cells, supplying new containers, equipment, and machinery, and supporting the Joint Services Council and local authorities.

In the public works and housing sector, the ministry continues its preparations to implement a project to restore moderately or slightly damaged housing units in Jenin city and its countryside financed by Germany through a UN program, in addition to preparations for bidding on the rehabilitation of the Zubda - Dhahr al-Abid road, completing the design for the Beit Qad – Faqqua road (the eastern entrance to Jenin city) stretching 11 km, and continuing the design of the Nazareth road, 4.5 km in length.

As for the energy sector, the Energy and Natural Resources Authority continues to implement a project to supply the health sector with solar power generation systems with storage systems, including the Martyr Khalil Suleiman Government Hospital and Al-Busatine Clinic in Jenin, in addition to completing medium-voltage lines from the Jalama substation for the benefit of Northern Electricity Company, valued at approximately 700,000 dollars, alongside interventions to rehabilitate the network, supply equipment, repair damages, and support affected areas with a total exceeding 6.14 million shekels, and develop the electricity network.

In the water sector, the Water Authority continues to implement strategic projects to develop the water and sewage sectors, which included improving the bulk water system and establishing distribution networks for villages in northeast Jenin valued at 51 million dollars, funded by the World Bank to serve about 120,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, nearing completion is the maintenance and operation of the Jenzoor well, valued at 3.5 million euros, and implementing a program to enhance water networks and distribution, including constructing water tanks and transmission lines valued at 14.5 million dollars funded by Germany, alongside executing sewage projects in Masliya, enhancing water security and improving the quality and sustainability of services.

Recently, a project was signed for building a treatment plant to serve 8 villages west of Jenin valued at 35 million euros funded by France, which will benefit approximately 90,000 citizens.

In the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners continue to implement numerous developmental interventions to enhance farmers' steadfastness, including developing agricultural infrastructure by opening and rehabilitating agricultural roads, rehabilitating earth ponds, implementing several transmission lines, along with distributing water tanks and irrigation networks, and other interventions related to seed production inputs and potato seeds, in addition to various grants and agricultural projects via several partners and international donor agencies.

As for the employment sector, the Ministry of Labor continues to implement training and employment programs targeting 522 beneficiaries in Jenin across 17 training specializations, alongside the "Bridges of Hope" programs, supporting entrepreneurial projects, implementing grants for cooperative associations, and providing free health insurance for more than 7,343 unemployed individuals, along with strengthening inspection procedures and labor protection to improve the work environment in the governorate.

This governmental tour in Jenin Governorate falls within a work program that includes rounds in various governorates, affirming the government's commitment to continue implementing developmental and service projects, enhancing citizens’ steadfastness, and responding to their needs through direct fieldwork and coordination with various local partners.