UNICEF highlights need for water conservation

AMMAN — UNICEF, in partnership with the Education Ministry and Japan Emergency NGO (JEN), celebrated World Water Day at the Princess Alia Secondary School in Amman on Thursday.

Under the theme “Water Conservation and Hygiene”, the UN agency highlighted the need for greater investment in the water sector, especially in water conservation initiatives, given that Jordan is the third most water insecure country in the world, according to a UNICEF statement sent to The Jordan Times. 

“UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure all children in Jordan benefit from improved washroom facilities at schools,” UNICEF Representative in Jordan Rozanne Chorlton said. 

“Thanks to the leadership and commitment of the government of Jordan, children in schools can enjoy access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation facilities,” she added.

Education Ministry Secretary General Sattam Awwad, JEN Officer in Charge Reem Amin, and the first secretary at the embassy of Japan, Norimasa Yoshida, attended the event.

With the support of the Japanese government and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, UNICEF and JEN are upgrading water and sanitation facilities in 200 schools in the Amman, Irbid, Maan, Mafraq and Zarqa governorates, reaching some 100,000 school-aged children, the statement said.

During the celebration, children at Princess Alia Secondary School performed dances, recited poetry, and participated in games and sketches about water, hygiene and water conservation. 

To encourage hygiene practices, gifts were given to the cleanest classrooms at end of the ceremony, according to the statement.

UNICEF and its partners have increased water conservation awareness among more than 110,000 schoolchildren in Jordan and plan to conduct assessments of water and sanitation services at schools in the seven remaining governorates in the Kingdom by the end of 2014, the agency said.

In addition, UNICEF supports the Water Ministry in rehabilitating and upgrading boreholes and water pumping stations, as well as providing new water trucks. 

Also, UNICEF and its partners deliver 4 million litres of water a day to the Zaatari Refugee Camp, the statement said.