The National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) under the Office of the Vice President will embark on a five-day monitoring and assessment visit to all the regional and municipal disaster management committees across the country, according to a dispatch from the Office of the Vice President at State House, Banjul.

The visit will among other things evaluate the measures put in place to mitigate the impact of last year's floods and destruction, notably in Kuntaur, Gambisara, Ebo Town, and Sinchu Baliya, to name a few. The touring team will also design measures of preparedness against such occurences.

"Since disaster management is a multi-sectoral activity, response to hazards and disasters are often multi-sectoral and multi-agency in nature as was evident during the National Disaster Management Committee intervention in Ebo Town in 2007," the dispatch stated.

The monitoring team will include some UN agencies and NGO's who have been very instrumental in complementing the efforts of the NDMC over the years. The team will be led by the Office of the Vice President, and will include representatives from UNDP, Concern Universal, UNFPA, the Gambia Red Cross Society, the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, the National Environment Agency and the Disaster Management Support Project.

The team will commence its work in the North Bank Region on August 29 with meetings in Kerewan, followed by subsequent meetings in Janjangbureh in Central River Region, Basse in Upper River Region, Mansakonko in Lower River Region, Brikama in Western Region, KMC and Banjul.

"Regional governors and mayors are kindly requested to coordinate these meetings in their respective regions and municipalities and to ensure full and active participation of committee members during the visits," the dispatch added.

The Office of the Vice President used the opportunity to thank all the NGOs, civil society organisations, local councils, regional and municipal committees, security and emergency services, UNDP and other UN agencies, private individuals and all other partners for their unflinching support and commitment to communities during disasters and emergencies in the country.

"A comprehensive report with recommendations will be submitted at the end of the visit in order to further enhance ongoing strategic decisions on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction in the country," the release went on.

In the meantime, the dispatch stated that the disaster management water tanks are currently available at the Fire Service Station in Churchill's Town for use by the KMC to ensure portable drinking water for the residents of Ebo Town.