(Photos by Clav: Cover photo of the capital, Banju. Story photo of Kombo)
Gambia (MNN) ― Struggling to overcome an economic meltdown, The Gambia now faces the added challenge of natural disaster.
Heavy rains produced another major flood that swept The Gambia over the weekend.
The raging floodwaters destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands more homeless. It compounds the damages left in the wake of severe flooding last month.
Global Aid Network contact in Gambia is David Jatta, whom we spoke with through a spotty Skype connection. "It is worsening. It is getting very serious. The government cannot handle the situation."
Survivors in Kombo's Central and Southern districts need food, shelter and medicine. Jatta just returned from an assessment trip to Gunjur and Brikana, two of the worst-hit areas.
He says as a result of the disaster, there are 3,000 more displaced, added to the 5,000 they were already helping--a small percentage of all of the affected flood victims.
Agricultural crops were also affected, and the government is overwhelmed. This is peak farming season, and waterlogged fields now mean severe food shortages in the fall and winter.
Jatta says GAiN is responding. They've already sent some help, but this relief effort includes the means to recover so that displaced farmers may bring life and hope back to their land. "There is another container that is arriving with seeds and food. This is going to be used toward giving food to the people. GAiN is giving capacity to the government."
While dealing with a crisis, the physical assistance is a key part of being the hope of Christ. Jatta explains, "People say, ‘Yes, you tell me about God's love. You tell me God loves me. But how is that relevant to the kind of challenge in the situation I'm facing currently?'"
GAiN's approach to meeting needs has opened some new doors in this Islam-dominated country. "Global Aid Network has helped us demonstrate God's love in the situations that people face. So we are allowed in because of our demonstrative care to the people in need. We've been given a certain allowance to show the JESUS film in the city, to distribute Bibles, to do things that would have been impossible without having been officially recognized."
For each $1 you send, you will help ship $27 worth of compassionate aid. A single container holding more than 270,864 meals will meet the immediate needs of those who are starving. These shipments are due to leave for Gambia and other impoverished areas within the next 60 days. Click here to help.
