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The Gambia mission is expected to last from August 11 to 16, 2024. The main objective is to ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the distribution of humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected communities.
It also includes comprehensive site visits, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation of relief efforts to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
ECOWAS has allocated a total of US$10.16 million for humanitarian relief efforts in its member states, of which US$1.76 million has been earmarked for The Gambia. The funds are intended to meet the needs of victims affected by the food crisis and flood disasters.
At the launch ceremony, NDMA Executive Director Sanna Dahaba said the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken an important step by allocating US$603,616 to the National Disaster Management Authority following the 2022 floods that hit several ECOWAS member states and caused severe damage.
“The funding is intended to facilitate a six-month response plan to support families affected by the 2022 floods,” he said. “The National Disaster Management Authority, on behalf of the Government of The Gambia, has identified the non-governmental organization and reliable partner Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to implement the project.”
He added: “This initiative is being implemented in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority to ensure timely and effective support to affected families.”
Mr. Dahaba recalled that the 2022 flood response project under the CRS was officially launched on May 30, 2024, aiming to help 2,650 households across the country.
Amulai Touray, CRS representative in China, acknowledged that “climate change poses a serious threat to our common efforts to eradicate poverty and promote shared prosperity”.
“It is well known that when disaster strikes, it is the poor who are the most vulnerable and the most affected,” said Dr Touré.
He explained that through the ECOWAS Post-Flood Recovery Response Project of US$603,000 funded by ECOWAS, the NDMA and the Office of the Vice President will work with the CRS and other stakeholders to reach 2,650 households through non-food items and provide cash transfers to project participants in various regions.
The project will
In 2022, he added, this approach is consistent with the CRS Global Strategic Goal 2, which aims to ensure “that all people can survive and thrive in the face of disasters”.
“CRS worked closely with the NDMA to develop a four-tier inclusion criteria for participants to ensure transparency in the selection process,” he said.
“This tier includes households with disabilities, households headed by women, and households completely destroyed by floods. To increase coverage and avoid duplication, interventions by development partners, including NaNA through the ECOWAS project.”
Executive Director of NaNA Malang Fofana acknowledged that The Gambia is a country with low income, food shortage, fragility and high poverty levels.
“In recent years, shocks and crises triggered by natural disasters, national, regional and global factors have exacerbated the living conditions of many families,” he said. “It is therefore crucial to address the various issues related to fragility and vulnerability.”
Mr. Fofana added: “The support provided by ECOWAS will help address vulnerabilities and strengthen the resilience of households and communities to shocks and crises, especially those affected by the 2022 floods.”
The head of the ECOWAS delegation, Mohamed Ibrahim, recalled that in 2022 the ECOWAS Commission “deemed it necessary to take investigative action to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the 2022 floods and to the food crisis that has engulfed our subregions, in a collaborative way with the Member States.”
He pledged to continue supporting the member states in improving the livelihood of all their people.
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