The Governor North Bank Region has hailed the UN World Food Programme
and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in complementing the government’s
efforts in building community resilience in mitigating disasters during an
emergency.
Lamin Queen Jammeh was speaking recently in Kerewan at a one-day sensitization session of ward councilors, alkalolu, multidisciplinary facilitation team (MDFTs) members on targeting criteria on food security in an emergency.
Governor Jammeh noted that building the awareness level of stakeholders and partners would enhance effective service delivery in an emergency to improve livelihoods.
He expressed the region’s commitment to disaster mitigation, and called on the participants to be steadfast in sharing information with the general population to enhance humanitarian works.
Speaking on behalf of the executive director of NDMA, Hudul EN Colley, who doubles as the disaster coordinator for Banjul, explained that the forum was part of a nationwide sensitization exercise to harness the understanding of the target population on targeting criteria on food security in an emergency.
He said the objective of the sensitization activity is to raise public awareness with a view to enlightening stakeholders on the procedures required in humanitarian interventions in emergencies within the context of food security.
Essa Khan, of the UNDP and a disaster risk coordinator, lauded regional authorities for their support to disaster response efforts.
He said the response was part of the 2010 floods declared by the government and, as a result, the EU responded positively with a drainage sanitation project and structures to address the underlying risk factor of flood.
Khan said building the capacity of stakeholders and partners on GIS on food security would help communities and schools on disaster risk targeting.
He said if disaster happens, resources are not adequate and therefore all hands are to be on deck to avert the occurrence of disasters.
He said the capacity building would help to identify the most vulnerable people in society during an assessment.
Bibhuti Bhusan Gadanayak, a UNDP Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Expert, said the forum would help to identify the target population in an emergency, and how to respond to their needs.
He said regional authorities have important roles in supporting communities on disasters.
Momodou BK Ceesay, Regional Disaster Coordinator, thanked stakeholders in the region for their support to disaster issues, noting that the forum would accord them the opportunity to share ideas and experiences on methods and techniques of targeting criteria on food security in any unforeseeable emergency situation.
The European Union on Disaster Risk Reduction project funded the one-day sensitization activity.