Supply of Drinking Water to the Eastern Cities and Villages of Mauritania

A loan agreement for KD 20 million was signed in Marrakesh on 17 April 2012 between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development to help finance a project for the Supply of Drinking Water to the Eastern Cities and Villages from Ground Water of Dhor Basin in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The loan agreement was signed by H.E. Dr. Sidi Weld Al-Tah Weld Babha Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, on behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and by H.E. Mr. Abdlatif Yousef Al Hamad, Director General/Chairman of the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Arab Fund.

The project aims to satisfy the demand for drinking water in the cities of Ne’ma and Tambadghah, to meet the future needs of the citizens of the two cities, and to provide drinking water to residents of a number of cities, villages and communities located in Dhor Basin area. This will be accomplished by utilizing part of the ground water of Dhor, transporting it to the residents. The project also aims at reducing the spread of diseases caused by the consumption of the contaminated water, which will lead to the improvement of the living, health and environmental conditions of residents of the area.

The project includes the following main components:

1 - Supply facilities of the cities and villages stretching from “Weld Al-darweesh” to “Tambadghah”.

2 - Technical Services.

3 - Institutional support.

The loan will carry interest at 2.5% per annum and will be repayable over 25 years including a 7-year grace period.

With the signing of this loan, the Arab Fund's total contribution to financing projects in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania now amounts to about KD 374.7 million.