PM Benjamin Netanyahu (R) signed a bilateral agreement with Papua New Guinea’s PM Peter O’Neill in Jerusalem on October 15, 2013. (Kobi Gideon/GPO/FLASH90)
Papua New Guinea, suffering from severe drought, will receive the Israeli mobile desalination unit, which will provide clean drinking water in remote rural locations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with G.A.L. Water Technologies Ltd., held a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on Monday, where a mobile desalination unit developed in Israel was donated to Papua New Guinea (PNG).
PNG was severely affected by El Niño, a tropical phenomenon that disrupts rainfall, and the island’s two million residents are suffering from a shortage of water as well as the destruction of crops. The Galmobile has the capability to provide clean drinking water in remote rural locations. It is a self-contained independent and automatic unit which can connect to any water source (rivers, lakes, oceans, brackish water, wells, highly turbidity water) and produce drinking water that meets WHO standards.
In light of the country’s distress and Israel’s commitment to aid and cooperate with PNG, as well as the excellent personal relations between the two countries’ leaders, it was agreed, at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s personal request, that the mobile desalination unit be donated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said.
In addition to humanitarian aid, Israel, via MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for Development Cooperation), is providing consultation services to PNG in seed production as well as establishing a professional training system for teens and young adults.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely spoke at the Jerusalem event, stressing Israel’s commitment to extending aid to friends around the globe.
Israel and PNG have maintained diplomatic relations since 1978, three years after the island country became independent. A cooperation agreement between the two countries was signed in 1989. In 2013, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill visited Israel with a delegation of senior officials at the invitation of PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The population in PNG, which is mainly Christian, strongly supports Israel. Israel also enjoys staunch support from the regime in the international arena, particularly at the UN.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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