Japan is to give Syria 16 million dollars towards a project to pipe water from Mount Hermon to villages to the south and west of Damascus, the government daily Tishrin said Sunday.
The Japanese aid for this 60-kilometer (35-mile) project expected to cost 20 million dollars overall, will cover the purchase of mechanical and electrical equipment and pipe laying.
According to the paper, the project, which will be finished in 2002 "will solve the water shortage problem in the areas concerned for the next 25 years."
Japan recently gave Syria 10 million dollars aid to develop water resources in villages to the north-east of Damascus.
Syria is facing a major water shortage following three straight years of drought – DAMASCUS (AFP)
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