Cairo, November 30, 2014

Grassroots Assistance

Japan supports Establishment Clinic and Water Treatment Plant in Bahariya Oasis
　

On Thursday November 27th 2014, Mr. Takehiro Kagawa, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, and Mr. Eid Ahmed Soufy, Chairperson of Wahet Dar El Salam Association for Environment and Community Development in Bahariya Oasis, signed a grant assistance contract for Japanese Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Projects.

  
The grant of US$ 102,961 is extended by the Government of Japan for the project of establishing and equipping a health clinic and a treatment plant for well-water in Qasaa village north of the city of Bawiti center of Bahariya Oasis. This project is expected to help improve the health services in Qasaa village and its surrounding villages, where lack of available health services and means of purifying well-water have caused severe health complications.

  
At the ceremony, the Ambassador said “this ceremony is only a beginning. We hope to see this project move forward steadily to achieve substantial value of the project for the local people.”

 
The grant is extended under the Japanese government’s assistance scheme for Grassroots and Human Security Projects, which gives support to non-profitable organizations and NGOs in fields such as health, social care, education, environment and vocational training. This scheme was launched in Egypt in 1994, and around 150 projects have been implemented to date, totaling about US$ 7 million. In particular, the flexibility and timely manner of the scheme has been greatly and widely appreciated.