The mission in The Gambia, which is expected to last from 11 to 16 August 2024, has the primary objective of ensuring the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of the humanitarian aid distributed to the affected communities.
It also included comprehensive field visits, stakeholder engagements, and an evaluation of the relief efforts to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
It would be recalled that ECOWAS allocated a total of US$10.16 million for humanitarian relief efforts across its member states, with US$1.76 million specifically designated for The Gambia. These funds are aimed at addressing the needs of victims affected by food crises and flood disasters.
At the opening ceremony of kick-starting the mission, Sanna Dahaba, Executive Director of NDMA, said that following the devastation caused by the 2022 floods that impacted several ECOWAS member states, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had taken a significant step by allocating US$603,616 to the National Disaster Management Agency.
“This funding is aimed at facilitating a 6-month response plan to support households affected by the 2022 floods,” he stated. “The National Disaster Management Agency, acting on behalf of the Gambian government, has identified the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a non-governmental organization and a reliable partner, to implement the project.”
He added: “This initiative is being carried out in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency to ensure effective and timely support for the affected households.”
Mr Dahaba recalled that the 2022 flood response project under CRS, officially launched on 30 May 2024, aims to assist 2650 households nationwide.
CRS Country Representative Amulai Touray acknowledged that “Climate change is an acute threat to our collective efforts” to end poverty and boost shared prosperity.
“And as we know, when disasters strike, it is always the poor who are most vulnerable and affected the most,” Dr Touray said.
He explained that through the ECOWAS Post 2022 Flood Recovery Response project funded by ECOWAS to the tune of $603,000, NDMA and the Office of the Vice President, in collaboration with CRS and other stakeholders, would reach out to 2650 households through Non-food items and cash transfers to project participants in all regions.
The project would provide essential social safety nets to flood victims of
2022, he said, adding that this approach is aligned with CRS Global strategy Goal 2 which aims to ensure that "All people survive and thrive in the face of disasters".
“CRS in close collaboration with NDMA has developed four tier inclusion criteria for participants to ensure transparency in the selection process,” he said.
“This tier includes households with Persons Living with Disabilities, households headed by females, households that are completely destroyed due to floods. To increase reach and avoid duplication, households that have received support from other government or development partner interventions including those reached by NaNA through this ECOWAS project.”
NaNA Executive Director Malang Fofana acknowledged that The Gambia is a low income, food deficit and fragile country with high levels of poverty.
“In recent years, shocks and crises driven by natural calamities, national, regional and global factors have exacerbated living condition of several households,” he said. “Addressing the various issues relating to fragility and vulnerability are therefore critical.”
Mr Fofana added: “The support received from ECOWAS was helpful in addressing vulnerability and building resilience of households and communities to shocks and crises, more specifically the 2022 flood victims.”
Mohammed Ibrahim, Head of ECOWAS Delegates, recalled that the ECOWAS Commission in 2022 “saw the need to swing into probe action by a way of engaging with member states to support with humanitarian assistance for post recovery of those affected by 2022 flooding and also the food crisis that has taken over our sub-regions”.
He assured of their continuous support for member states for better livelihood for all.
