Jordan inaugurates China-funded water project

Jordan on Thursday inaugurated a mega water project funded by China that seeks to reduce pressure on Jordan.

The project, which costs around 1.8 million U.S. dollars and is funded by China, entails infrastructure work to enhance water supply in Al Russaifeh area, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

"The project will play a key role in reducing pressure on Jordan as it is hosting a large number of Syrian refugees who place a great pressure on the country's water resources," Minister of Water and Irrigation Hazem Nasser said Thursday.

According to official figures, there are around 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan of whom only 10 percent live inside camps.

The project, which is funded by a grant from China, will help enhance water supply to the northern areas of Jordan, said the minister.

The project entails extending new water pipelines and rehabilitating water infrastructure in the area.

The project, he said, will help reduce the percentage of water loss due to worn out networks.

Pan Weifang, Chinese Ambassador in Amman, voiced China's keenness to help Jordan amidst the presence of a large number of Syrian refugees.

The Chinese ambassador called for increased aid to meet Jordan's needs, especially in the field of water and waste water, stressing that Jordan is a role model to be followed in terms of management of water resources. Endit