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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 18:25:04
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Sidia Jatta to launch disaster relief fund, calls for national and international support
By Alieu O. Jabang
Friday, August 27, 2010
 Picture: Sidia Jatta
Hon. Sidia S. Jatta, the National Assembly Member for Wuli West constituency has disclosed plans to launch a disaster relief fund for victims of disasters in his constituency.
Sidia was speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the People's Center for Research and Social Sciences in Churchills Town, to update journalists about what had happened in Sutukonding village in the Wuli West district of the Upper River Region.
This follows a heavy downpour on 31st of July this year, and the press conference was convened to announce the launch of a disaster relief fund.
According to the Wuli West NAM, this does not mean that he is unmindful of the National Disaster Management Agency's initiative, but what he intends to do is to supplement the national effort in that direction.
"I feel concerned, because I am the NAM of the area and am not happy with the trend of events since the disaster took place on 31st of July. So far, I have not heard any announcement to the effect that something is being done or some people have been there to assess the scale of damage done there," he said.
He said that in order to supplement the national effort on the provision of disaster relief services, he as the NAM of the area can come in and make appeals, both nationally and internationally, for help to those who have been affected by the disaster.
The Wuli West NAM announced that there was serious damage to infrastructure by the heavy downpour in the area, which destroyed buildings, fences, foodstuffs, and caused the loss of household items, such as clothing.
In one particular case, he said, the seedlings of a huge corn field were swept away by the flood waters. He added that as many as 27 compounds have been affected by the natural disaster. Livestock was also affected, including sheep and goats, Hon. Jatta said, describing the incident as a terrible loss.
As he put it, a good horse costs nothing less than D20, 000. He cited an incident which had recently happened in Sutukoba village, where six to eight horses were killed in similar circumstances.
"And am yet to hear what the national initiative has done to help those who have been affected by that terrible damage, in either Sutukoba or in Sutukonding," he complained.
While expressing dismay in the way and manner in which the National Disaster Management Agency operates, Hon. Jatta said, there has been an absolute need for preparedness.
"You know we have a national disaster relief programme in this country, but I don?t know how they are operating because a lot of disasters take place at least in our part of the country, and I don't see much of what they do," he argued.
He complained that there were so many fire outbreaks in Wuli Barrow-Kunda, in particular, and some other villages in the same constituency, "but up to this day, nothing has been done to support the victims."
This, he said, is one of the reasons why he is planning to get in touch with the fire service department, to ask them to help prepare our communities against such eventualities.
He called on the fire service personnel to go out to areas that are prone to fire outbreaks during the dry season so as to prepare communities against such eventualities, before and after the event.
"Even if there is a fire station in Basse, if there is a fire outbreak somewhere in Sandu or Wuli, at a particular time at night, the fire service in Basse cannot be of any help, because there is no ferry service at that time of the night," he pointed out.
This, he added, is why the North Bank of the Upper River Region should have a fire service station, at least to serve the districts of Sandu and Wuli, "where fire disasters are very common during the dry season."
Source: The Point online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 18:45:42
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| Excellent. These folks are much better than us and their work has more value for betterment of Gambia than us talking politics. There are so much things one can do and talking politics should not be the first one if one wants improvements in Gambia. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 19:19:41
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Turk, did you really write that  ? I thought that you lived for politics and discussion,you wont answer me I know 
?,I thought that you lived to discuss politics 1
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 27 Aug 2010 19:21:48 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2010 : 21:37:54
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WULI WEST MP BRIEFS PRESS ON WULI DISASTERS APPEALS FOR SUPPORT
By Mamadou Dem
27-08-10
The National Assembly Member for Wuli West, in a press conference held on Thursday 26th of August at the People’s Center in Churchill’s town, briefs the press on the disasters which occurred in Wuli and URR in general.
The Wuli West Member of Parliament said that the main purpose of the press conference is to inform the press on the recent disasters caused by heavy down pours of rain resulting in the destruction of several buildings in Sutukonding, Sutukoba and environs.
He added that the recent flood caused huge destruction to properties such as buildings, food stuffs, fences, clothing, household utensils, farm land and even livestock.
He said it is in this regard that he would commence a programme to assist those that are affected in the said place particularly those who were victims of the flood of the 31 of July 2010. He said the destruction affects a total of twenty seven compounds in Sutukonding alone together with livestock and seedlings that were all washed away by the flood.
He said the destruction is especially severe in Sutukoba in the Wuli East where 8 horses and many ruminants have been washed away. He said this shows the magnitude of the floods.
Honourable Jatta further explains that he has been suggesting to the government department responsible on several occasions in the National Assembly both during question time and adjournment debates, to put a fire station in the North Bank of URR to serve that part of the region where fire disasters often occur but nothing has been done to date. Jatta opined that a fire station in Basse cannot serve that purpose because of the need for ferry crossing especially at odd hours.
He said the information he has is that much rainfall is expected in the URR and the KMC this year. He informed the press that even last Wednesday, the area experienced 5 hours of rain fall and if the trend continues, more disasters can be expected.
The Wuli West Member of Parliament indicated that it is necessary for him being the National Assembly Member for Wuli West constituency to inform the press as well as launch an appeal on behalf of the victims. He calls on government to intensify plans to assist the people that are being affected by these disasters.
When asked how he hopes to achieve this objective; Sidia said the first thing is to appeal nationally and internationally so as to raise funds and other necessary items required to help the victims. He however said what is needed to ultimately solve the problem is to put up a viable structure in place which will have branches in every region and even in communities to share information and expertise and to sensitise people on erosion and topography as well as address issues regarding disasters.
Sidia could be reached on the following contact numbers; 9947444/6534532 or 4393177.
Source: Foroyaa Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2010 : 18:11:06
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Sedia Declares Campaign for Wulli Disaster Victims
By Nyamou Njie
An opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) parliamentarian Hon. Sedia Jatta on Thursday expressed outrage at government’s failure to respond to the needs of victims of recent disasters in his region, Wuli.
Speaking at a press conference held at People’s Centre in Churchill’s Town, the Wulli West parliamentarian described the recent flooding as worst in his region’s history.
“At least 27 compounds have been destroyed and over a hundred natives were displaced. Feeding, clothing and other household materials were all washed-away and crops were destroyed. Farmers in Sutukoba, a village in Wuli have lost seven horses valued at about 150, 000,” he explained.
Although due to heavy downpour, he said the flooding is aggravated by bad agricultural practices.
But inspite of these mishaps, the National Disaster Management Committee, which is mandated to coordinate disaster in the country, continues to overlook the plight of flood-hit poor citizens, the veteran politician has said.
Sedia Jatta said the victims in his region are not provided with any relief materials and the disaster management body has also failed to assess the level of destruction.
But as a representative, Hon. Jatta said it is his duty to ensure the wellbeing of his people and it is in this regard that he launched a disaster relief fund for the disaster victims in his region.
This, he added, is meant to supplement the national disaster body in responding to disaster. He called for both national and international support for the victims to re-build their shattered lives.
Source: Dailynews |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2010 : 14:31:38
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Sedia Fires Back at Disaster Committee
By Saikou Jammeh& Basiru Jobarteh
Wulli West parliamentarian Hon. Sedia Jatta has argued that the figure he has given regarding the number of people victimized by flood last month in his region is correct.
The opposition parliamentarian last month told journalists that floods has affected at least 27 compounds and 6 to 8 horses perished.
He had claimed that the national disaster management body failed to either provide the victims with relief materials or assess the level of damage.
However, the regional disaster management coordinator in his region Mawdo Amadou Jallow had said the veteran politician’s assertions were incorrect.
"There is no inaccuracy in the figures I have given and any attempt by your staff to trivialize my report is unprofessional and disconcerting to say the least," Sedia quoted a letter he sent to the National Disaster Management Agency, during a press briefing yesterday.
He said he had to launch a relief initiative because the victims had not received any substantial assistance.
The relief initiative, he added is legal, contrary to the disaster management body’s warning against misapplication of the law?
Needs for decentralisation
Hon. Jatta re-iterated the need for the transformation of Village Development Committees into Village Disaster Management Committees and to appoint village disaster coordinators, as stipulated in the National Disaster Management Act of 2008.
This will encourage the flow of information from the village to the highest level in order to prevent inaccuracy, he added.
He further added that decentralising disaster management will equip villagers to make quick response to disasters before waiting on others.
Relief not substantial
"In my view, giving food items is a good gesture, but it does not necessarily amount to substantive relief granted to disaster victims," Sedia said. "What constitutes substantive relief is to return the victim to be as close to his financial or material wellbeing prior to the disaster.
"Those who lost horses should be able to get horses back. Those whose buildings collapsed should be able to get shelter in return," he added.
Source: Dailynews
Read Hon. Sidia Jatta's letter to the National Disaster Management Agency at: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?whichpage=2&TOPIC_ID=9651#62749 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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