Long-Time Gaza Staffer Retires

November 28, 2012 | Gaza City — Today, Anera bid farewell to Salah Sakka upon his retirement from the Anera office in Gaza. Mr. Sakka joined the team in 1995 as director and worked in that capacity for most of his tenure.  More recently he assumed the position of deputy chief of party for EWAS II, a $64.8 million USAID-funded water, sanitation and other infrastructure program that Anera is implementing.

Mr. Sakka started in Anera’s office in Gaza when there were only three staff members with a few activities to oversee. In 17 years, the staff has grown significantly as has the scope and number of Anera’s projects. Under his leadership, throughout Gaza, Anera has connected communities to clean water supplies, built reservoirs and sewage systems, delivered donated medicines and health care supplies, renovated preschools, trained teachers and doctors, and helped families to become self-sufficient.

“Salah is well-known and respected all over Gaza. Through his large network of individual and organizational contacts, he has gained a deep understanding of the problems local communities face and has successfully directed Anera’s response. He did all of this with patience and perseverance in a very challenging environment,” said Bill Corcoran, Anera’s president.

In January 2012, Nahed Al-Wehaidi was promoted to the role of Gaza office director when Mr. Sakka changed positions. Mr. Al-Wehaidi, a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, joined Anera in 2001 as an engineer and has led a large number of infrastructure, water and sanitation projects in Gaza. He has made the leadership transition smooth for staff and partners.