As the impact of last July’s destructive flood in Jabang Estate in West Coast Region of The Gambia is still being felt by hundreds of residents, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaa’t on Thursday took relief items to the community to cushion the effects of the flood.
Multitudes of families are still struggling to pick the pieces of their lives following the devastations caused by the flood.
The flood wiped out some family food stores and it also left in its wake colossal destruction to property.
The Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaa’t in The Gambia was today at the head of a delegation that went to Jabang Estate to deliver the disaster relief items to 50 families as well as to commiserate with them as losses are still being counted.
They went along with 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of onions, clothes and cash.
Amir Baba F. Trawally and delegation, including officials of Humanity First, were received on arrival by the beneficiaries and the Alkalo of Jabang.
In attendance was the newly-appointed Disaster Management Coordinator for West Coast Region (WCR), Modou Ceesay, who also represented the governor of WCR at today’s event.
The Governor of WCR, Ousman Bojang speaking through the regional disaster coordinator, said his region was the hardest-hit by the July floods as nearly 2,500 families were impacted.
“I thank the Amir, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaa’t and Humanity First. The items will be very supportive to the beneficiaries,” he stated.
“West Coast Region is the biggest region in The Gambia in terms of population and land size. The flood affected my region more than any other region,” he added.
Meanwhile Amir Trawally told the gathering that the Caliph of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaa’t was aware of the magnitude of the disaster and that the Spiritual Leader was saddened by the news of the July floods which caused 13 deaths across the country.
“We’re gathered here because of a sad event. When the floods happened in July, I wrote to the Caliph to inform him and he was deeply saddened by the news. He’s steadfastly praying for recovery, the peace of the nation and the world,” Amir Trawally explained.
Commenting on the disaster relief intervention, Amir Trawally said it was all in the spirit of caring and sharing.
“This is the spirit of neighborhood… providing support to each other. That’s Islam. Islam is about support, charity and compassion,” Amir Trawally stressed.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaa’t meantime went to all regions of the country to reinforce the Gambia government’s disaster management capabilities by donating food items and other essentials to the most-affected families.
“We are saddened by the 14 deaths. We were in all the regions to provide humanitarian assistance to affected families. That’s not their wish. This is why we should fervently pray for Allah’s protection, guidance and mercy. And, we should pray for peace in the country and the world, at large.
Regional disaster coordinator Modou Ceesay highlighted that Thursday’s donation is worthy of emulation.
Beneficiaries Nuha Barrow and Isatou Kassama all expressed gratitude to the Jamaa’t as they appealed for a permanent solution to floods in Jabang.
