His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, recently donated a million dalasi worth of rice to the recent flood victims within the Kanifing Municipality, the Western Region and the Greater Banjul Area at a ceremony held at State House.
The bags of rice were handed over to the governor of the Western Region, the deputy mayor of Kanifing Municipal municipality and the mayor of Banjul  on behalf of the beneficiaries.

One thousand bags were given to the KMC; five hundred and thirty-nine bags went to the Western Region and two hundred and eleven to Banjul City Council.

Speaking at occasion, the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh reiterated his unflinching support to the affected families noting that the victims need help especially during this holy month of Ramadan. The Gambian leader stated that he could have provided the one million dalasi in cash but said the money would have been in the wrong hands.

He commended institutions and individual philanthropists who earlier responded to the call by Disaster Management Council during the past floods that hit the other regions of the country.

In his reaction, the governor of the Western Region, Mr. Lamin Sanneh, commended President Jammeh for his benevolent gesture noting that this is not the first time he is coming to their aid. He disclosed that there are more than five hundred families affected in the Western Region.

Mr. Sanneh assured that the donation will be distributed as soon as possible since the victims are quite in needy of it 
The deputy mayor of Kanifing Municipality, Mr. Yusupha Sanyang, noted that his municipality cannot do it all alone. He commended the president for the assistance and assured that the donation will be put into good use and that distribution will be equitably done.
 The chairman of the KMC Disaster Management Committee, Mr. Musa Mendy, pointed out that the KM is the biggest municipality but that almost all the areas are affected. He revealed that Ebo Town used to be the only place affected by floods, but this year, he said, Bakau, Kotu Quarry, Jeshwang, Abuko and Bundung are the hardest hit.

In a similar development, the people of Bajiran and Seyone villages headed by Seedy Colley of Kombo Central presented fourty-nine bags of rice and ten bags of coos to President Jammeh. The produce, according to Mr. Seedy colley, was harvested from President Jammeh’s farm in cultivated by the two villages.
On receiving the items, the president thanked the villages for answering to the back-to-the-land.

By Alhagi Ceesay