RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Mariam Sherman, the director of the World Bank in Palestine, signed on Thursday an agreement of rehabilitation for the Gaza Strip.

This agreement is to finance and focus on expanding the water supply and sewage in the Gaza Strip.

The agreement also includes technical and operational assistance to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility in order to enable them to provide water services and sanitation as fully as possible.

Shadad al-Atili, the head of the water authority, explained that the demand on water increased due to the increasing population.

The level of the groundwater decreased 13 meters in some areas because the amounts of water that are withdrawn from the underground reservoirs are not satisfactory.

Also, the salinity of the groundwater increased as it interacted with sea water. In addition, there is high concentration of pollutants in some areas due to the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Majed Abu Ramada, the chairman of the coastal water authority, praised the support of the World Bank and said water sanitation and infrastructure in Gaza needed improvements.