SINGAPORE, 16 November 2016 – SINGAPORE’S leading independent disaster relief agency) Mercy Relief is partnering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore (MFA) to deliver a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-based (WASH) “Healthy Community Project” in Timor-Leste. To be launched end 2016, the six-month project roll out will share solutions with local Timor-Leste communities on challenges such as access to safe drinking water, better sanitation and hygiene.
Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Mr. Sudesh Maniar, said, “In the 1960s, Singapore was short of water and we had to ration water island-wide. We thus appreciate the consequences of water vulnerability and the need to have a sustainable water supply. MFA is pleased to partner Mercy Relief, in helping villagers in Timor-Leste have better access to clean water and sanitation facilities, promoting good hygiene practices and training in sustainable water management practices. We are proud of the work done by Singapore-based NGOs like Mercy Relief to improve the water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in neighbouring countries.”
This partnership is implemented under Singapore’s Sustainable Development Programme to support the United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The partnership aims to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the region, and demonstrates Singapore’s continued commitment to Goal 6 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which focuses on clean water and sanitation.
Ms. Zhang Tingjun, Executive Director at Mercy Relief said, “We anticipate that this six-month project will benefit about 300 households. Access to safe and clean water is a critical aspect of community development and recovery. Our past WASH projects have benefited over 22,000 families across Asia. Mercy Relief has been active in 24 countries in the region since 2003 and this WASH project marks Timor-Leste as the twenty-fifth country in which Mercy Relief has served.”
Ms. Zhang will also be among a panel of experts, sharing the team’s experience and knowledge on the topic of Clean Water and Sanitation at the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development. This year’s forum, happening from 22-24 November 2016 in Singapore, gives companies greater clarity on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the opportunities in helping governments achieve them.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jolyn Mo
Black Dot
+65 9048 3582
jolyn@blackdot.sg
Nigel Low
Black Dot
+65 9837 4256
nigel@blackdot.sg
