GRCS, CRS launch cash transfer to support vulnerable families

The project was through Social mobilization, community engagement and the provision of food and nutrition support through Cash Transfer.

The project will support 4, 992 individuals in North Bank, West Coast, Lower River, Central River and Upper River regions of The Gambia with one thousand dalasi (D1,000) each to purchase basic food items as well as other needs of the family for two months.

Women headed households, widows, pregnant and lactating mothers, people living with non-communicable diseases, household heads living with disabilities, household heads living with HIV and AIDS, vulnerable migrants and youth household heads are set to benefit from the cash transfer.

The objective of the project, funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiative is to improve awareness on covid-19 risks with focus on the most vulnerable, as well as improve the nutritional status of vulnerable households, especially women, and children in North Bank, northern parts of Upper River and Central River regions of The Gambia.

Deputising for CRS Country Director at the launch held at GRCS headquarters, Baboucarr Bojang commended all stakeholders for their contribution in responding to the pandemic as well as providing the basic needs of vulnerable population.

He thanked Ambassador Lang Yabou for facilitating the process for GRCS and CRS.

Bojang indicated that restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic have slowed agricultural productivity, adding that there are real risks of food insecurity among vulnerable populations, especially women and children.

To that end, he hailed national and international partners as well as frontline health workers for their tremendous sacrifice since the beginning of the pandemic.

Alasan Senghore, Secretary General of The Gambia Red Cross Society thanked Gambia government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Ambassador Yabou.

Covid-19, he highlighted, has challenged the world by testing our health capabilities, infrastructure and scientifically, saying it has not only brought challenges to human nature but also challenged economically.

He noted that at Red Cross, they have clear pillars to deal with covid-19, adding that these include health response, mitigating the effects of covid-19 as well as dealing with humanitarian consequences of covid-19.

He thus assured all that they will deliver on the project as well as ensure transparency.