Water supply challenges in rural areas of Crimea are the most essential issues to be solved by Crimean Republic – said Mrs. Svitlana Verba, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of AR Crimea on donors meeting on 14 March.

According to her words, currently too many areas of the Republic have water supply problems – 54 settlements still use imported water.

At the same time, Minister positively estimated Swiss-Ukrainian Project “Decentralization Support in Ukraine” (DESPRO), which is co-financing water supply projects in rural areas. She addressed Crimean rayons to take part an active part in it. 

“Water supply issues in rural areas are too acute. All of us are to deal with them to create appropriate life quality. These are the issues, which shall help us to solve the other problems”, stressed the Minister while addressing the representatives of small towns and rayons.

Besides, Mrs. Svitlana Verba said that Government of AR Crimea decided to update current water supply systems in the Republic.

Mrs. Maryna Bryl, DESPRO Expert on national policy underlined that projects ratio increased up to UAH 990 thousands (average cost per project) during the second project phase, while the average project cost within the first phase was UAH 160 thousands. Communities of practice activities also increased, said Maryna Bryl: the ratio of DESPRO, communities and local budgets contributions accounts for 23%, 65% and 12%. During the first phase this ratio was 54%, 29% and 17%. DESPRO never decreased its monetary contribution, while communities began to mobilize much more resources.