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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 17:43:53
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VP says a lot of planning needs to be done As she visits flood-hit areas
by Sheriff Janko
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
 The vice president and minister of Women?s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, has said that a lot of planning needs to be done in the areas affected by floods in the country, especially in the Greater Banjul Area and the Western Region.
She made these remarks Monday at the end of a tour she conducted in the flood-hit areas in the Greater Banjul Area and Western Region. Accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including the Attorney General and minister of Justice, Edward Gomez, Jatto Sillah, the minister of Forestry and the Environment, UN officials, officials of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) among other senior government officials, the vice president?s visit was meant to obtain first-hand information about areas affected by the floods as well as to put emergency plans in place as part of efforts to respond to the affected individuals.
The visit which started in Banjul, took the vice president and delegation to flooded areas in the city such as Tobacco Road and Lancaster Streets. Speaking to reporters at the end of the tour, VP Njie-Saidy said that going to the affected areas and seeing people and communities and how they are suffering as a result of disasters, will make one to understand the situation better. "The loss of infrastructures has been seen as well, houses have fallen, a lot of families have been evacuated and people are living in swamps and indeed people are living in waterways," she stated, adding they are looking into how to alleviate the situation.
She pointed out that disasters shouldn't be a surprise to us, citing the effects of climate change as a result of human activities. She also revealed that scientists have said that the rainfall pattern, particularly for the next 36-48 hours, will be on the increase. She continued: "But again, it has come to the issue of planning because in the 70s, we had drought and suddenly the drought has stopped and we are beginning to experience a lot of rainfall. During the drought many people settled in supposedly dry land but it is swampy lands as some are rice fields and waterways. But because of the drought we didn't have wash up and rainfall patterns that we are seeing now."
The vice president explained that the NDMA's main task is to provide relief and alleviate the plight of the disaster victims as well as dialogue with their development partners such as area councils and the National Roads Authority, to see what can be done with regards to the issue of development. She finally stated that after the assessment they can specifically determine what is required by the different communities and families. VP Njie-Saidy also visited the Kanifing Municipality and Western Region, where similar statements were made by members of her delegation.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the tour, the Attorney General and minister of Justice, Edward Gomez pointed out that disaster is not a phenomenon which comes as a surprise, because for many years scientists have been talking about carbon emission, global changes and the consequences to come or follow. Jatto Sillah, the minister of Forestry and the Environment also expressed similar sentiments. Malcom Robert Duthie, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative in The Gambia on behalf of the UN system, said he was impressed by authorities inspecting different areas and talking to affected individuals.
"We are here as partners in development and we are very pleased to be included on the tour to look at the effects of flash floods that hit these areas in the past few days. We are here to assist in whatever we can in that process. We worked closely with officials both at regional and national level," he said.
Kanifing Municipality
In the Kanifing Municipality, the story was a different one as it recorded the heaviest floods in recent years. The delegation led by the lord mayor, Yankuba Colley, visited affected areas like Tallinding Farokono, Bundung Borehole, Kotu Erinjang, Kotu Silo and Kotu Quarreh, where a considerable number of compounds inundated with flood waters were inspected. Here officials revealed that a total of 250 families covering 2470 people were affected by the flash floods. It is also reported that 176 families in KMC alone were displaced during the 24-hour torrential downpour that hit part of Greater Banjul Area and Western Region.
 Speaking to reporters in Kotu, Mayor Colley expressed his sympathy for the victims, saying he and his team are working hard to ensure that they are assisted. He described Sunday's rain as the heaviest recorded so far in the country this year, while attributing the incident to the fact that some of the affected individuals are occupying waterways. He also disclosed that weather forecasters have said there will be more rainfall in the coming days, and advised people to settle in suitable areas to avoid floods. Colley finally appealed for assistance for the affected families.
Western Region
In Brikama, the vice president and delegation visited a number of inundated households. The governor of the Western Region, Lamin Sanneh and the regional Disaster Coordinator, Sering Modou Joof, led the delegation to affected areas like Brikama Misra, Jambari Sanneh, Sukuta and Nema.
Source: Daily Observer
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 17:54:43
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| As long as the VP can get funds on sustainable projects things should improve,I fear that GOOD projects although properly funded are SOMETIMES doomed to failure due to unforseen "expenses" |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2010 : 00:35:17
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What a dreadful situation to add to the list of natural diasters this year!
Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, is right in saying that a lot of planning needs to be done in the areas affected by floods in the country...
Planners need to make sure that there is sufficient drainage and Architectural designs need to be adapted to accommodate flash flooding. One suggestion is to allow the drainage of flashflooding to run beneath the houses to allow the run off to escape more freely. That drains are regularly cleaned out and that rubbish is properly disposed of. That settlements are not built on flood plains. It would also be a good idea to check the historical records from 30 years ago and further back to see whether or not there is a sequential pattern of floods happening in these areas; to see whether or not the settlements at that time were as densely concentrated as they are now. This may give them some clues on future town and country planning. Another question for them is whether or not the houses that were built were built on flood plains, if so then the reoccurence of this happening again highly likely. Therefore it would be illogical to build them again on the same site. Gambia should also reinforce its sea and river defences. If they are not implace then it is done to the government to consult with experts to see how they can build them. An Environmental Corps should be set up with volunteers to assist them and also they could enlist the army to do some civil engineering work, and train civilians at the same time.
Despite this uncomfortable situation that has afflicted Gambia let's be thankful that the people are not in the same situation as the Pakistani flood victims because the situation could be much worse.
The Global predictions for Banjul being more harshly affected in the future has already been predicted, so time is of the essence for all the stakeholders to put an Action Plan into motion to start moblising Public Works to get on the case and implement the changes that need to be done.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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concort
365 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2010 : 06:24:33
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| Very sad, indeed...Poor sewer/drainage system along with massive flooding, is worrisome to say the least. How could we all help out our very own who were affected by this natural disaster? |
As Salamu Alaikum Waramatullah Wabarakatu |
Edited by - concort on 08 Sep 2010 20:24:44 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2010 : 09:00:22
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Cutting down forests across Africa is a big problem affecting rainfall patterns and the ablity to cope with the rain.
Drainage is important, as are sea defences.
It is a complex problem that needs addressing for the future. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2010 : 20:28:57
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Over 300 compounds destroyed in LRR, WR
By Lamin B. Darboe
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
More than 300 compounds were destroyed by the recent heavy rains in the Lower River and Western regions of the country, according to the latest reports reaching this paper.
The regional disaster co-ordinator for Lower River Region (LRR), Lamin Saidy, confirmed that as many as 48 houses collapsed in five out of six districts in his region during the heavy downpour of rain on Sunday and Monday.
Mr Saidy revealed this in a telephone interview with The Point from his Mansa-konko office yesterday morning.
He said the districts affected were Kiang Central, Kiang East, Jarra West, Jarra Central and Jarra East.
"In Kiang Central, three houses in the village of Tendaba, four in Kiang East district in the villages of Jeneiri, Jasobo, Toranka Bantang and Koloir, and four in the Jarra West district were destroyed," he said. "Also, three bulls and one donkey drowned at Sare Biram village resulting in the death of one bull out of the three bulls in that community."
"In Jarra Central, 17 houses collapsed within four villages namely, Jasita Fulla, Musa Arldo, Dikateh and Jallow Kunda, and in Kiang East district, 20 houses were destroyed in four villages namely, Bureng, Donkoroba, Dogeyel and Dingirai."
At the time of speaking to The Point yesterday, Mr Saidy and his regional disaster committee were distributing food and non-food items to the disaster victims.
Similarly, the regional disaster co-ordinator for Western Region, Serign Modou Joof, also confirmed that some 269 compounds in Western Region were affected by flood waters, representing a population of 2210 people in the region, by Sunday's and Monday's rainfall.
In the North Bank Region, disaster coordinator Pullo Joof said over 30 compounds were flooded in Barra town by the heavy rainfall, and that some more houses collapsed in the Upper Badibou and Sabah Sanjally districts.
Yesterday, according to Mr Joof, the regional disaster committee led by the regional Governor, Edwarr Seckan, distributed food and non-food items to the flood victims in Barra.
Mawdo A. Jallow, the Upper River Region regional disaster coordinator, also spoke to The Point about Sunday's and Monday's rainfall, which he said did not cause any havoc in his region.
At the time of speaking to Mr Jallow yesterday, his disaster team was distributing food and non-food items to 16 flood victims in URR, and he asserted that 61 flood victims had already benefited from earlier distribution exercises.
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2010 : 22:23:54
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I am so sorry to hear that tendaba and kolior have lost houses.
This year the rains must have been hard as usually this area has the problem of not enough rain.
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tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 07:59:02
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This is terrible news and my sympathy goes to all the victims affected by this natural disaster. Sadly it is not the first time. Sister Omega raised very important points to which I totally agree with. From my knowledge of Banjul's history, many of the houses there were built on flood plains. Banjul's sea defences should have been strengthen up long ago, but no leader took the initiative.
Just a recommendation:
Since there is no mention of how people can help in Momodou's report, not to put any pressure on Momodou but I think it would be a lovely to set up some sort of Bantaba foundation and all donations given to Momodou to be forward on behalf of Bantabarians. Just an idea. No pressure. I have also contacted The Gambia United Society UK to see whether we can all pull together to help the victims of this disaster. This is down their ally. They do wonderful work and I urge all Gambian in the UK or abroad to visit their website and help.
http://www.gambiaunitedsociety.org.uk/
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Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 13:43:10
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See the following from Buharry.
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Hi!
The flood disaster in Gambia is devastating. Please go to:
http://www.raaki.com/grts
and see. I have compiled GRTS September 6th. & 7th. newscasts dealing with the floods. Please help if you have any possibility. The affected victims really need help. Thanks.
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Tamsier, I think one should try and help anyway you can. We can not make any Bantaba foundation currently. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 15:26:22
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I have watched this report. It is very interesting and worrying at the same time. I feel for these people.
I am concerned for people I know in Tendaba, Kolior, Kwinella etc....
Does anyone have more detail about areas affected and the state of the roads? Is it possible to get to Tendaba at the moment? |
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tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 09 Sep 2010 : 21:30:47
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Thank you very much for the link Momodou. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2010 : 22:46:54
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Are there any more updates on the floods and how people are affected?
Does the government have long term plans for better flood defences?
Are people being educated about the role of forestry?
Are they going to have restrictions on where people can build properties? |
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