ISTANBUL

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed two grant agreements on Thursday with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide $1.5 million to support Gaza’s water sector and $2 million to improve education in Lebanon.

In a statement, the government-run fund said the Gaza project aims to restore water and sanitation systems, provide safe drinking water, and improve public health amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

On Monday, Gaza’s second-largest desalination plant ceased operation, days after the territory’s largest facility was shut due to Israel’s ongoing border closures, which have blocked fuel and essential supplies.

The fund said the Lebanon project will invest in infrastructure to enhance learning environments for local and refugee children by rehabilitating three public schools in line with the country's Education Ministry standards.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Hezbollah group that escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.

Thursday’s grants mark the 10th humanitarian aid agreement between the Kuwait Fund and UNICEF. Since 2017, the fund has provided about $24 million for nine projects with the UN agency, according to the statement.

The Kuwait fund, which operates independently using its own resources, provides concessional loans and development aid to assist developing nations with infrastructure projects.