President Adama Barrow has pledged 5 million Dalasi (D5M) as humanitarian response for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Foni following the Sunday clash between Senegalese troops and the MFDC that displaced residents of certain border communities.
The pledge by the head of state was announced by Her Excellency the Vice President Dr Isatou Touray on Monday during a multi-sectoral meeting.
The meeting was meant to urgently look into the issue of the IDPs in Foni, at the wake of the Sunday clash between Senegalese troops and the MFDC in Casamance, the Southern Region of Senegal.
President Barrow had directed the Vice President Dr Touray to work with the relevant Government agencies and 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 the Internally Displaced Persons and refugees from the affected border communities are arriving and being registered in the villages in the Foni Bintang, Foni Kansala etc.
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 the vulnerable among the displaced people, which include the women, the elderly and children.
During the discussion, the World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Country Director, Mr Malick Ndiaye, who represented the UN body on humanitarian response made a commitment to give assistance in the current situation by working with the relevant government institutions.
In order to facilitate the process, a rapid appraisal would be undertaken within 48 hours to guide the UN Humanitarian Response Mechanism in its intervention with the government. The UN will support the activity.
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 is due to meet again on Thursday to update the public about its findings and what is expected to be an emergency response package to the vulnerable groups.
The meeting brought together security apparatus, government, UN agencies, and a representative from the business community who all updated 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 desist from peddling hate speech or spreading false information.
By Sarjo Camara, OVP