US Ambassador: Our Partnership With Iraq Continues And We Are Committed To Supporting These Sectors
Monday 25 Nov 2024 | Economic Number of readings: 112 Baghdad / NINA / The US Ambassador confirmed the continuation of the US government's partnership with the Iraqi government and working hand in hand with various sectors, and providing sustainable energy to ensure a better future for future generations.
“Launching this program will help us secure Iraq’s future,” said US Ambassador Alina Romanowski during the launch of the Universal Access Program to Improve Water and Sanitation Services in Iraq today, Monday, in the capital Baghdad. “Launching this program will help us secure Iraq’s future. Last September, the US government, through the US Agency for International Development and UNDP, helped Iraq with existing strategies to protect the environment and diversity from climate change.” She added
“Launching the Universal Access Program to Water and Sanitation Services and Achieving Food Security for the Most Vulnerable People is an important strategic step. We believe that the importance of access to clean water in Iraq may pose a challenge to some citizens in the countryside or the city. We also see that there are many challenges that we can clearly see.”
She explained, “Climate change, unsustainable irrigation systems, and water pollution are emerging challenges to the environment and also affect people’s lives. Therefore, we are working today to invest in water and sanitation, and we can help build the basic infrastructure for this issue.”
She added, “The US government, through the US Agency for International Development, is cooperating today with UNICEF to launch this program, which will help provide financial grants to launch The comprehensive access to water and sanitation services program and the management of the water file in its entirety, will also help in the integration of various parties, including the international community, the public sector and the private sector, hand in hand to work with each other,”
indicating that “this partnership is to enhance water and sanitation services that help people to access safe drinking water, and there are 5.9 million people who may not be able to access this clean safe water.”
The US Ambassador stressed the need for community leaders, the public and private sectors, and all citizens to cooperate to rationalize water use, and the importance of this water for everyone.
She continued, "Since 2017, USAID has contributed to various programs and played an important role in helping 12 million citizens access safe water, and has also helped various water projects. For the period 2020-2023, USAID has also contributed to the reconstruction of 10 desalination plants in Basra, as well as helping five million people in Basra access healthy water."
She added, "This long-standing partnership with the Iraqi government, and cooperation with UNICEF since the beginning of this year, has helped the US Agency secure 18 million people to enhance access to water as well as various water initiatives, how to ensure the availability of water and its optimal use, and better manage water resources."
She pointed out that $15 million was provided last June to help food programs, enhance Iraqi community preparedness, and reduce the impact of climate on water projects, in addition to other initiatives in which women and youth contributed, indicating that “access to water is an important goal in the sustainable development agenda, and represents a commitment between our two countries to protect cultural and knowledge exchange.”
She added that “the importance of the sustainable support strategy for water management falls within the framework of an important environmental need that may help today in addressing water scarcity, addressing the problem of food and water security, and confronting climate change,” stressing that “the support that we are all committed to today will help us in various fields through various partnerships, projects, and assistance.” /End5 https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1171022