ReliefWeb

Amman, Jordan

Each year on 22 March, World Water Day draws attention to the importance of water, and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources around the world.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water resource availability, per capita, in the world. A lack of water and a problem of water quality also has a major impact on people’s health and the environment. Good management of water resources is crucial, and demands innovation and creativity.

To combat the growing crisis, UNRWA in Jordan is working hard to raise awareness about environmental issues among the country’s Palestine refugee community, with projects designed to encourage ideas for energy and water conservation.

One such initiative is “Green UNRWA Schools”, rolled out in the Agency’s schools throughout the country to create an understanding among students of environmental issues, including water. Late last year, UNRWA students in the area, launched a project to purify “greywater,” or excess water from the school’s taps and sinks, and reuse it in the schoolyard for irrigation and cleaning. The project will save the school between three and four cubic metres of water every month.

Also in Jordan, UNRWA is studying potential ways and costs of setting up green technologies such as solar energy at more than 200 UNRWA installations in the country, including schools, health centres and area offices. By the end of 2013, the Agency aims to set up solar water heating systems in at least five of its 24 health centres.

These are a few of the many projects UNRWA in Jordan is working on to conserve water and environmental resources in the country.