USAID Mission Director visits Hebron and meets with its Mayor

Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily met on 21/9/2010 with Mr. Michael Harvey, USAID Head of Mission as well as with Ms. Karen Excel, USAID’s Director of Education Development Office, Ms. Marty Cook, USAID’s Director of Health and Mr. Bradley, USAID’s Head of Democracy and Governance. This meeting, held at the invitation of Mayor Osaily, aimed at getting acquainted with the state of progress of joint projects in the city as well as examining proposed projects in the fields of infrastructure, roads and schools.

At the beginning of the meeting, Osaily spoke about general conditions in Hebron. He touched on vital and infrastructure-related projects, progress made during the past months as well as the need for additional projects that would improve the life of inhabitants and create jobs to curb unemployment in Palestine. He also touched on the many joint projects implemented in Hebron, such as Al Hussein bin Ali Stadium, as well as on projects underway such as Al Salam Park which were partially funded by USAID through affiliate institutions.
Speaking about other vital projects for which Hebron Municipality seeks funding, Osaily said that there is an urgent need for infrastructure-related projects in the fields of water, sanitation, roads, youths, schools as well as for job creating projects for recent graduates and unemployed persons. “USAID has played a major role in supporting numerous projects in Hebron and other Palestinian Governorates. We look forward to additional support and to more projects in Hebron which is the biggest and most populated Governorate in Palestine. A number of proposed projects shall be submitted today which will tremendously improve life in Hebron as well as conditions witnessed by its inhabitants”, he added.
Mr. Harvey expressed his satisfaction with achievements and developments witnessed on the ground as well as with the efficiency of work at Hebron Municipality’s various sections. He also hoped that new serious projects will see the light in partnership with the Municipality. “I look forward to the execution of the wastewater treatment project in Hebron which is already underway so that it is finalized and fully implemented in the near future. Such a project would largely improve living conditions in the entire Governorate”, he added.
Mayor Osaily then accompanied the delegation on a tour of the Municipality’s various sections, mainly its Customer Service Center.