A group from Ecowas has been to Banjul to conduct a five-day field validation, monitoring, and assessment of the humanitarian aid given to victims of the flood and hunger crises in The Gambia.

A five-day field validation monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian relief provided for food crisis and flood catastrophe victims in The Gambia has started in Banjul, where a delegation from Ecowas has just arrived.

The humanitarian aid distributed to the affected communities will be accountable, transparent, and effective, as guaranteed by the mission. The evaluation of the relief efforts will be conducted to identify gaps and areas for development, as well as comprehensive field visits and stakeholder engagements.

Representatives from the government, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Ecowas Commission, and a variety of implementing partners will participate in the mission.

Ecowas allocated a total of $10.16 million for humanitarian relief efforts across its member states, with $1.76 million specifically designated for The Gambia. The objective of these funds is to provide assistance to individuals who have been impacted by flood disasters and food crises.

The relief aid was intended to target 2650 households in all regions by providing non-food commodities and cash transfers to project participants. The initiative will offer critical social safety nets to the victims of the 2022 floods.

The mission commenced with an inaugural ceremony at the Bakadagi hotel yesterday, during which stakeholders discussed the significance of relief funds and the objective of the trip with the media.

Lamin Camara, the permanent secretary at the Office of the Vice President, stated that the government will persist in its collaboration with Ecowas and other partners to enhance the capabilities of institutions and communities to implement measures that reduce the vulnerability of individuals.

He stated that the Gambia’s government has exhibited a strong commitment to disaster risk reduction and management within the country. This commitment is emphasized in the recovery-focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP 2023-2027), which prioritizes community resilience to shocks and crises in its first pillar. The government’s proactive approach to constructing a more resilient and secure future for its citizens is emphasized by this emphasis on disaster risk reduction and management.

Sanna Dahaba, the executive director of the NDMA, stated that the funding was intended to facilitate a six-month response plan to assist households that were impacted by the 2022 floods.. The Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a non-governmental organization and a dependable partner, has been identified by the NDMA, which is acting on behalf of the Gambian government, to implement the project. In order to guarantee affected households receive timely and effective assistance, the initiative is being implemented in close collaboration with the NDMA.

“I am grateful to Ecowas for its assistance in assisting member states in mitigating the crisis’s effects.” According to him, disasters have had a substantial impact on the lives and livelihoods of individuals, particularly in 2022, when the Gambia was plagued by floods that affected more than 50,000 individuals.

According to Mohammed Ibrahim, the representative of the Ecowas Commission, The Gambia received a grant of $954,616 to address the food crisis and disaster. “This response was intended to provide assistance to the most vulnerable in accordance with the Ecowas Provision on Humanitarian Mechanism, which outlines the process and procedure for providing humanitarian assistance to Ecowas citizens,” he stated. He stated that the mission will assess the effectiveness of the funds and pinpoint any deficiencies.