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IHHNL Netherlands donates food aid to Muslims in Gambia

Jul 17, 2014, 10:49 AM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

Cemiyetul Hayr Relief Organization (CHRO), in collaboration with International Humanitarian Hulporganisatie Netherlands (IHHNL), a charitable organization based in Holland, Tuesday distributed substantial amount of sugar, oil and rice to Muslims in The Gambia in observance of the month of Ramadan.

The donated items included 500 25-kg bags of rice, 500 5-litre gallons of cooking oil and 500 10-kg bags of sugar.

The beneficiaries included the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, NDMA, Tobacco Road Mosque Association, NGOs Affair Agency, SOS Children Village, Alh Lalo Kanteh Islamic Institute, Tallinding Islamic Institute, Madarasatul, Ousman Faye School for Memorisation, Abdoullah IBN Masound Boarding School, and Sierra Leone Muslim Jamat in The Gambia.

Speaking at the presentation held at the Talinding Islamic Institute, CHRO Country Director Musa Jallow said CHRO is a charitable organization collaborating with IHH Netherlands in helping the needy in The Gambia.

According to the country director in 2003, IHH came back to work with CHRO because they had learnt how CHRO operates and were satisfied.

In that respect, he said, the two organizations, IHH and CHRO, re-started their operations and went into formal agreement with all codes of conduct to be adhered by both organizations.

Mr Jallow further highlighted some successful achievements his organisation had registered in the past years, adding that CHRO was once again blessed to witness another Ramadan food package distribution sponsored solely by IHH Netherlands.

He said this year their sponsorship package was up to the tune of 14,980 Euros which was equivalent to D861,350, adding that the money was used to purchase 500 bags of rice, 500 bags of sugar and 500 gallons of cooking oil.

These food items are meant to be distributed among needy families and institutions, he said.

Sheikh Darboe, representative of Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, thanked the IHHNL through Cemiyetul Hayr Relief Organization for the gesture, saying CHRO is well recognised by the Gambia Islamic Supreme Council for helping the poor and needy.

He noted that the organization did not only provide sugar, rice and oil to the needy but went further to provide also local well for the community.

He thanked the management of the CHRO through its country director, Musa Jallow, for their hard work and commitment in ensuring that such an international donor come to The Gambia and help the poor and needy, especially in the month of Ramadan.

Huseyin Gunduz, one of the donor agents, thanked the Almighty Allah for giving them the strength and ability to come and help the poor and needy in Ramadan.

He explained that his organization is operating all over the continent to help the needy.

For his part, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, expressed delight to be associated with the “important gesture”, while describing IHHNL as true friend of The Gambia.

He further expressed appreciation and happiness for the effort of one of the donors for coming all the way from Holland to help the poor and needy as well as to see for himself how the items were distributed to the needy.

Speaker Bojang commended the Cemiyetul Hayr for their stance in helping the poor and needy during big events like Tobaski through their counterpart friend.

On behalf of the Gambian community, he thanked the donors for the initiative, saying the items would go a long way in addressing some of the needs of the people, especially in this holy month of Ramadan.