Nouakchott, Feb 24, Saudi potable water wells digging and rural development program phase 3 in Mauritania was launched today.
Yousef bin Ibrahim Albassam, Saudi Development Fund Vice President and Managing Director and Mauritania's Minister of Water Dr. Ali Wild Ahmadou inaugurated the third phase of the program which costs $.5 million.
A delegation of the SDF, staff members of the Saudi Embassy in Nouakchott and a number of senior officials also attended the ceremony.
In a key address, Albassam said phase 3 of the program includes the digging of 25 equipped water wells and 40 traditional wells and extending long water supply networks, benefiting more than 70,000 Mauritanian citizens in the states of Albarakna, Adrar, Taghant and Gorgol.
He said the two previous phases have cost $7.27 million allocated to dig and equip 29 wells and extend some 10,000 meters of water pipes, benefiting more than 50,000 Mauritanians.
Albassam said the coming fourth phase will cost $5.5 million.
Saudi Arabia has extended 12 loans and grants worth around SR127 million, Albassam concluded.
On his part, the Mauritanian minister extended thanks, in the name of the ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy, government and people of Mauritania, to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this generosity and kindness.
He said the Saudi program to dig potable water wells in the West African coast countries has widely contributed to solving the chronic water deficiency problem on which the people's welfare and health completely depend.
