A UK-based Islamic Non-Governmental organization called Noor Aid Gambia branch, recently ended a weeklong food distribution and donation of scholarship packages.
The gesture also included distribution of mosque materials (such as mats, loud speakers, Holy Qurans), cash distribution to orphanage, provision of wells, rice, vegetable oil and sugar to the local communities within the greater Banjul and peri-urban areas.
The distribution took the form of community outreach and submission of tickets to beneficiaries in a queue at the residence of the coordinator in Wellingara, Kombo North District, West Coast Region.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the distribution exercise, Ousman Jammeh, coordinator of Noor Aid Gambia chapter, stated that the reason for issuing tickets to beneficiaries is to avoid letting some of the beneficiaries receive twice when some of their colleagues did not get anything.
He added that the organization is a relief aid and charitable entity that provides support to the less advantaged, poor and needy local communities in Africa and Asia to alleviate poverty among rural and per-urban dwellers.
“During the weeklong exercise we were able to distribute over 300 bags of rice (50kg), 200 drums of vegetable oil, financing the provision of 12 wells, constructing and rehabilitating 13 mosques, giving bags of sugar, second-hand clothes, cash donations and distribution of D135,000 to students for scholarships from Lower Basic School to university level.
According to him, the organization will come up with strategies in place to ensure sustainability of community projects at all levels in alleviating poverty among local people.
He uses the opportunity to commend the management of Noor Aid main office in the UK, particularly Hashim Bharucha, chairman of the organization, and his colleagues for their unflinching support provided to the local people to improve their living condition.
For his part, Hashim Bharucha, chairman of Noor Aid organization, hailed the people of The Gambia for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded them.
He said The Gambia is a peaceful country and her people are very nice people; everyone is smiling.
He said the materials, goods and money distributed came from Ummah Welfare and Tauheedul Relief organizations based in the UK, who provided support to the local people.
He commended them for the gesture and called on others to come forward and support a worthy cause.
The organization, he said, was founded in 2002 with the objective of helping the poor and needy in Asia and Africa.
“We are intervening in the areas of education, health, agriculture, water and food distribution,” he added.
He also commended the Government of The Gambia for creating an enabling environment for such an organization like theirs to operate.
Yama Colley, a beneficiary, on behalf of her colleagues, thanked and commended Noor Aid for what she described as timely intervention. It has come at a time when it is highly needed, she said, adding: “This support will complement government efforts in providing food aid to families who are hard hit by the last year crop failure as a result of erratic rainfall.”
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