VP receives food aid worth 1.6 M

The donation is meant to help flood victims in the country.

The donated items were: 200 bags of 50kg, 50 bags of sugar (50kg), 50 boxes of milk powder, 40 boxes of edible liters, 50 boxes of can beef, 20 boxes of teabags, 20 boxes of ovaltine, and 20 boxes of vermicelli.

His Excellency Badara M. Joof thanked the Turks for their gesture and said the gifts would go a long way in satisfying some of the domestic consumption deficit at the level of the households.

VP Joof explained that his office together with relevant stakeholders just completed a retreat and would introduce a strategy that would stop them from receiving food aid to permanent solutions and would address the issue of floods and inundation.

He said that they need to address issues of the waterways in a permanent form in terms of engineering of the canals, and resettling some of the victims that are settled in waterways.

And that, he said, involves land allocation, compensation, and shelter provisions.

“It cannot always be food aid. There are structural problems that need to be addressed systematically and make sure that there is a permanent solution,” he added, while  expressing optimism Turkey and Karpower would be on their side and work through the sustainable solutions.

Emre Durmuşoğlu, regional director of Karpowership, said they would continue to engage more in their in social responsibility projects in The Gambia.

He pledged commitment and support of Karpowership through this difficult period and every step of the long road ahead.

Mr. Durmuşoğlu further revealed that they have extended their contract with the National Water and Electricity Company in supporting the government of The Gambia.

Turkey's ambassador to The Gambia, Tolga Bermek, said Karpowership is the main component of their economic relationship with The Gambia and they do not only provide sustainable electricity but also corporate social projects.

He expressed gratitude to the government of The Gambia for its collaboration and mutual solidarity which is one of the main components of a long-standing relationship.