Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Ministry of Water and Irrigation Saturday signed a $22 million Japanese grant agreement to carry out the second phase of a project to raise the water sector's efficiency in northern governorates hosting Syrian refugees.

Water and irrigation minister, Hazem Al Nasser, said during the signing ceremony, attended by the director general of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), that his ministry was working with all resources to overcome the "imbalances" caused by the Syrian refugee crisis, which had placed increased pressure on water resources in the Kingdom's north.

He said the ministry had provided all the means for a positive and effective approach to address the water supply and sanitation problem in the region and deal with the repercussions of the situation in neighbouring Syria and secure the best possible service to Jordanian citizens as well.

Nasser said the second phase followed the first phase in an urgent programme to raise the water efficiency in northern governorates, particularly in areas with the highest number of Syrian refugees, including Howara and Sarih, which was funded by a $25 million grant from JICA.