Tulkarem, West Bank – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Palestinian Authority celebrated inauguration of the Tulkarem Western Entrance Road in the north-western part of the West Bank on Thursday. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and USAID Mission Director Howard Sumka attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with Palestinian Authority Ministers, Governors, Palestinian dignitaries, and representatives of the Tulkarem community.
USAID contributed more than $2.7 million to rehabilitate 3.7 kilometers of road and sidewalks, improving traffic conditions and pedestrian safety. In addition, rehabilitation work has begun on 1.3 kilometers of side roads that will connect to the new road.
There will be approximately 2,200 vehicles traveling each day on the Tulkarem Western Entrance Road, and approximately 24 million vehicles travelling over the next 20 years.
The Tulkarem road rehabilitation is part of USAID’s new 5-year, $300 million Infrastructure Needs Program, which aims to improve the quality of Palestinian infrastructure and help the Palestinian economy. During the first year of the program, USAID is providing $80 million to implement 17 projects, including schools, roads, and water distribution systems improvements.
Since 1993, USAID has provided more than $2.2 billion in U.S. economic assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza via projects designed to reduce poverty, improve health and education, implement infrastructure and water projects, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance.
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