By Isatou Fofana
The U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia her Excellency Sharon L. Cromer has recently disclosed in a press statement that the U.S. Embassy in Banjul donated $250,000 in humanitarian assistance to The Red Cross to assist victims of the recent floods in The Gambia.
Her Excellency Cromer said that The United States provided this humanitarian aid to help those affected by the recent floods which have caused substantial suffering to the Gambian people, including damage to homes and properties, displacement, and health concerns
“As partners who stand in solidarity with The Gambia, we want to reach those impacted by this terrible situation and offer assistance during this difficult time,”Ambassador Cromer posited.
According to the statement, the Red Cross will use the assistance to reduce suffering and assist those most severely impacted in parts of Banjul, Kanifing Municipality, West Coast Region, and North Bank Region.
The statement also pointed out that specific aid provided by the funds includes helping families offset the cost of repairing their houses, relief supplies for bedding and hygiene, and support for Red Cross mobile clinics, psychosocial services, and health and hygiene messaging.
Mr.Daniel Bolanos, Head of Cluster Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Dakar thanked the US Embassy for the donation. He went on to explain that many people have been stranded, helpless, and vulnerable as a result of the floods.
“We have already released emergency funds to support the Gambia Red Cross Society response and are grateful for this help from our U.S. partners to scale-up assistance efforts,”he noted.
This donation from the United States is the latest of many forms of assistance provided to Gambians to enhance their health and well-being. Since the start of the global pandemic, the United States has donated more than 440,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to The Gambia through the COVAX program, as well as medical supplies through USAID. These efforts, along with other ongoing assistance programs, are part of the U.S.’s continuing efforts to build a strong partnership with The Gambian people.
