Gambia, Qatar Red Cross sign MoU

(Thursday 17 October 2019 Issue)

Gambia Red Cross Society and Qatar Red Crescent, Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen operation in institutional capacity of The Gambia Red Cross Society.

The MoU targets to enable The Gambia Red Cross Society to support communities on health, sanitation, livelihood, resilience, disaster prevention and response.

The MoU came at the backdrop of the good bilateral relations between the two countries following a high powered Qatar delegation visit to the Gambia to assess the country’s development needs following President Adama Barrow’s visit to Qatar.

Speaking at the occasion held at The Gambia Red Cross Society Head Quarters, Alasan Senghore, Secretary General Gambia Red Cross Society described the signing as important as The Gambia is reemerging with a new dispensation and the Gambia Red Cross Society is also reemerging as a national society that wants to retake it position in terms of delivering both humanitarian and development services to Gambians.

SG Senghore explained that when the delegation visited them they had discussions and shared their strategies, plans, needs and priorities which resulted to the Qatar Head of International and Qatar Red Crescent General coming to The Gambia to formalize the relations and start implementing projects.

He pointed out that they have been trying to get partners to help them continue delivering humanitarian services to Gambians, adding that Qatar Red Crescent is a partner that has been supporting them but the partnership was not systematic or organised.

According to him the MoU will strengthen their capacity as well as reposition The Gambia Red Cross Society as one of Government key partners in delivering both development and humanitarian services to Gambians.

Ali Bin Hassan Al-Hammadi Secretary General Qatar Red Crescent said they are impressed with Gambia Red Cross Society’s vision and are convinced the partnership will grow from strength to strength.