Cross-section of participants at the meeting
His Excellency President Adama Barrow has pledged five million Dalasi (D5M) as humanitarian response for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Foni.
This was announced by Her Excellency the Vice President Dr Isatou Touray on Monday, March 14th during a meeting she convened with stakeholders. The meeting was meant to urgently look into the issue of the IDPs in Foni, at the wake of military operations in the Southern Region of Casamance, Senegal.
President Barrow had directed the Vice president Dr Touray to work with the relevant Government agencies to urgently respond to the pressing needs of the Internally Displaced Persons.
The National Disaster Management Agency and The Gambia Red Cross Society have affirmed that Internally Displaced Persons and refugees from border areas are arriving and are being registered in the villages of Foni Bintang, Foni Kansala and Foni Bintang Karanai.
Having heard from both government stakeholders and the UN agencies, the Vice President said it is time for The Gambia to act immediately to address the urgent needs of these vulnerable people, who include women, the elderly and children.
During the discussions, the World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Country Director, Mr Malick Ndiaye, who is representing the UN body on humanitarian response, committed to give assistance in the current situation by working with the relevant government institutions.
In order to facilitate the process, a rapid appraisal will be undertaken within 48 hours to guide UN Humanitarian Response Mechanism in their intervention with the government. The activity will be supported by UN.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is making efforts to distribute food packages and mattresses to the affected people in the region.
The Committee agreed on a number of actions and will meet again on Thursday, March 17 to update the public about their findings and what is expected to be emergency response package to the vulnerable groups.
The meeting brought together security apparatus, government, and UN agencies, and a representative from the business community. All updated Her Excellency the Vice President about their current findings and immediate need assessments.
The meeting has concluded that all communication and resources are to be coordinated accordingly.
The Vice President also urged the public to be mindful of misinformation, and to desist from peddling hate speech or spreading false information.