Involvement of Palestinian women in water acquisition and water management in the occupied Palestinian territories
Abu-Dayyeh Q.
in
Hamdy A. (ed.), Sagardoy J.A. (ed.), El Kady M. (ed.), Quagliariello R. (ed.), Bogliotti C.
(ed.).
Training of trainers in INtegration of Gender Dimension in water management in the Mediterranean region. INGEDI project
Bari : CIHEAM
Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens; n. 64 2004
pages 135-136
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--- Abu-D ayyeh Q . In volvemen t of Palestin ian women in water acqu isition an d water man agemen t in th e occu pied Palestin ian territories. In : Hamdy A. (ed.), Sagardoy J.A. (ed.), El Kady M. (ed.), Q uagliariello R. (ed.), Bogliotti C. (ed.). Training of trainers in INtegration of Gender Dimension in water management in the Mediterranean region. INGEDI project. Bari : CIHEAM, 2004. p. 135-136 (Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens; n. 64)
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INVOLVEMENT OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN IN WATER ACQUISITION AND WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Q. Abu-Dayyeh*
* Water project Coordinator, Land Research Center, Palestine. Email: lrc@planet.com
Water crisis in the Palestinian occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip) is a chronic one due to many reasons. Amongst these reasons are the following:
1. The total control of Israelis over water resources in the country;
2. The bad management of available water resources;
3. The low percentage of annual rain fall;
4. The high percentage of pollution of underground water.
These factors, altogether, have created a serious shortcut of water for domestic and agricultural purposes in the occupied territories.
As an attempt to alleviate the impacts of this problem, LRC and other Palestinian NGOs, has embarked on programs aiming at directly involving women households in water harvest and management. The Palestinian family became the center stone of these programs whose components are the following:
1. The digging of underground cisterns and the construction of tanks for rain fall water collection.
The average capacity of each cistern/tank is 100 M2. Some of these cisterns/tanks are done in the vicinity of houses and used either for drinking or for irrigating agricultural spaces and gardens affiliated to these houses. Such cistern/tanks are filled by rain water collected from house roofs during winter season. They are mainly run by female households. Other cisterns are dug up for irrigation uses as part of an integrated land reclamation projects;
2. The provision of needed irrigation networks and equipment, especially for women households;
3. The implementation of training programs for women and other beneficiaries on techniques of water harvest and hygiene.
In general, herewith are the objectives of these projects:
1. Claiming and implementing the right to land and water;
2. Producing and delivering needed food and water at this critical time of military closure and collective punishment;
3. Ensuring that housing remain close to sources of livelihood;
4. Improving gender equality through women empowerment and self – worth;
5. Encouraging participatory alternatives by decision making and actions.
6. Improving environment around housing.
These projects were initiated depending on Participatory Needs Assessment conducted by LRC and other Palestinian NGOs in Palestinian communities. Therefore, it stems from local people, particularly women, who took the initiative to pose solutions to the problems arising from the scarcity of water.
LRC started this program in the year 2000. So far, about 300 underground cisterns and tanks have been built. The number of project beneficiaries is 300 families, with 3000 people. Another 4000 cisterns and tanks were also built by other Palestinian NGOs in recent years.
Funding for these projects came form a number of organizations, such as the Italian Co-operation, UNDP, the Welfare Association, THE Japanese government, Catholic Relief Services, Anera, EEC, Spanish co-operation and the Australian Aid with contributions from local communities, LRC and other Palestinian NGOs.
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Hata – Hebron – West Bank, family agriculture irrigated by dug up under ground cistern and run by female household. The cistern is filled by collected rain fall; Project implemented by LRC
Jala, Hebron: A girl is filing jarcans with water from the village's surface spring
Yata: Hebron: A Palestinian women is getting water from a dug up cistern near her house; Project implemented by LRC
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