Major boost for WR flood victims

The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) last Saturday donated household materials worth four hundred and fifty thousand dalasis (450,000) to 16 flood victims at Sinchu Baliya, Western Region at a ceremony held at the village’s health centre.

The assistance is another humanitarian service manifested to the victims of such natural disasters by the Gambia Red Cross Society.

The donated items which included 31 sets of mattresses, bednets, bed sheets, buckets, bags of rice, blankets, cooking oil and packages of laundry and bath soap was shared among the 16 flood victims.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Fatou Gaye, Senior Red Cross Officer said the donation was in response to the plight of the 16 flood victims who were left homeless as a result of heavy down pour of rain sometime back in July this year.

She recalled that during the process of the flood which occurred at mid-night, their volunteers came out to assist the victims which minimised the damages.

According to her, an assessment was conducted by their team as to how much damage the flood caused and how much assistance the victims would need within the shortest possible period. She then advised the people of the area to be mindful of disasters and called on them to encourage their children into voluntarism.

Lamin Gassama, representing the Secretary-General of the Gambia Red Cross Society said the presentation is a moment of reflection to family members who were victimised by nature sometime back in July this year. He noted that since the Gambia Red Cross Society’s motto is “to serve one another,” then it is mandatory for them to intervene and assist colleagues victimised by natural disasters and other forms of catastrophies.

While assuring the general public of their commitment to answer to the needy, Gassama noted that, they are not competing but are only serving as an auxiliary to  the efforts of government.

For his part, Serigne Modou Joof, Public Relations Officer of the Brikama Area Council who represented the Governor of Western Region, hailed the efforts of The Gambia Red Cross Society for the kind humanitarian services they are rendering to victims of disasters, describing the gesture as worthy and timely.

He further advised the people to learn from disasters and quickly revealed that his council will come with solutions geared towards preventing disasters in the region.

Ousman Gaye, acting Chairman of the Brikama Area Council echoed similar sentiments.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Lamin Fatty Fatty, Red Cross’s Branch Officer for Western Region, Alhagie Amadou Bah, Alkalo of Sinchu Baliya and Kumba Barry.