Grassroots Human Security Grant Aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al-Muthanna including Samawah)

December 12, 2004

The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grassroots human security grant aid of about 353,000 dollars (about 39 million yen) in total to ACTED (Agency for Cooperation and Technical Development), a French NGO, for the implementation of the Project for Improvement of Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Rural Areas of Al-Muthanna (Phase II).
ACTED is supplying water using water tankers in some regions of the Governorate of Al-Muthanna where water supply facilities are especially weak. It has become difficult, however, for ACTED to continue to carry out its activities because of a shortage of funds, and it has asked the Government of Japan for assistance in providing funds necessary for the project, including the rental fee for 44 water tankers.
The project will provide hygienically safe water for about 67,000 residents in the southern part of Samawah, the central city of the governorate, and the surrounding areas, and is expected to help stabilize the people's living conditions.
In April 2004 Japan decided to extend assistance for similar activities of ACTED for the Project for Improvement of Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Rural Areas of Al-Muthanna. This is Phase II of that project.

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