Gambia - Emergency Relief to Drought Victims

The proposed emergency relief operation will be used to support the revival of food production and alleviate the suffering of some 235,000 people affected by the 2002 drought in 10 districts of the country. This emergency assistance includes the following components: (i) Seed supply, such as early millet (360 tonnes), late millet (72 tonnes), sorghum (176 tonnes), maize (270 tonnes), paddy (640 tonnes) and groundnuts unshelled (200 tonnes) Depending on cultural practices and ecological zones, each household should receive an average of 35 kg of seeds. The supply of 1,618 tons of seed, all species combined, will help raise food production to the level of 2001; (ii) the deepening of 52 existing wells and the construction of 30 new wells will increase the availability of safe drinking water in the affected communities. Eight wells on average will be built or deepened to increase the availability of drinking water in each community. The project will help accelerate the recovery of the sector, particularly with a view to food security. The Bank Group's contribution to the financing of the EMOP is US$ 500,000.