Access
According to the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, 92% of the Palestinians had access to an improved water source in 2004, while 73% had access to improved sanitation. Unlike other MENA countries, the JMP does not provide figures for the share of sewerage connections according to urban and rural areas in the Palestinian territories.
| Access to Water and Sanitation in the Palestinian territories (2004) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (72% of the population) |
Rural (28% of the population) |
Total | ||
| Water | Broad definition | 94% | 88% | 92% |
| House connections | 88% | 64% | 81% | |
| Sanitation | Broad definition | 78% | 61% | 73% |
| Sewerage | n/a | n/a | 46% | |
A 2011 survey carried out by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reports similar figures. According to the survey, the number of households in the Palestinian territories connected to the water network increased from 85% in 1999 to 91.8% in 2011. In the West Bank, 89.4% of the households were connected while the connection share in the Gaza Strip was 96.3%. Concerning sanitation, cesspits were used by 39% of households, while access to the sewer network increased to 55% in 2011, up from 39% in 1999.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation reports low service levels especially in small villages and refugee camps. The gap between urban and rural areas concerning water supply house connections may be due to the fact that available water resources are not accessible for the Palestinian actors in many cases.
Read more about this topic: Water Supply And Sanitation In The Palestinian Territories
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