By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
Barely two weeks after the flash floods which affected numerous Gambian residents on the 31st of July and 5th of August 2022, Food Bank Gambia has supported 20 families in the Old Yundum area. Working with the National Assembly member for Old Yundum, Hon Abdoulie Ceesay the team of Food Bank Volunteers handed out 20 bags of rice to some 168 flash flood victims on 14th August 2022.
One of the beneficiaries welcomed the support which they referred to as comforting during a time of difficulties. One unnamed female beneficiary had these words to say: “thank you very much. You’re highly welcome. This is the first time we have received such support. Your concern has comforted us and lifted our spirits. Even if you didn’t bring food for us, the words of comfort you’ve given us is encouraging”.
Another female beneficiary thanked the Hon member for Old Yundum whose contact with Food Bank Gambia facilitated their support to his electorates. Speaking in Mandinka she stated: “we have a leader who doesn’t forget us that’s our Hon [Abdoulie Ceesay] he is trying his best when this flood struck, he visited all the affected areas. He helped us with things that we can use to manage whenever he visits”.
Speaking to Hon Abdoulie Ceesay he stated that: “I am extremely happy with the Food Bank Gambia supporting seriously affected-flood victims. This temporal measure to keep the family going by providing them with food is an amazing intervention which gladdens the heart so much. I thank Awa and her Volunteers for a job well-done, [and] also thank Yusef Taylor for facilitating the relationship”.
Speaking to Awa Damia who spearheads Food Bank Gambia and currently resides in the Netherlands she told Gainako that “within the Food Bank Gambia we have various programmes one of them is the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program geared towards helping vulnerable people in terms of emergencies such as the recent Floods”.
Ms Damia explains that the program targets families requiring immediate food, nutrition and relief assistance. According to information received from Food Bank Gambia volunteers “20 families received 25kg bag of rice each. In total 168 people were supported, averaging just over 8 people per family”.
Explaining how she raised the funds she said “we thought it was necessary to set up a Go Fund Me to raise funds to actually assist them. So, in this community outreach, all the funds generated were done through Go Fund Me. So that is how we were able to support these victims of the recent floods”.
