The Caravan of Mercy, a charitable organisation, recently dsitributed food items; such as sugar, rice and oil to over 900 needy people including orphans, widows and other vulnerable groups of people at a ceremony held at Farato Village in Kombo South, Western Region.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ebrahim Iqbal Patel, the chairman of Caravan of Mercy, said it was not the first time they gave such donations to the needy within and outside The Gambia. He indicated that the organisation was established to complement the efforts of the government and to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country by giving a helping hand to the poor and the needy  in the sub-region. Patel further disclosed that his organisation had also distributed food items to about five hundred families  in fifteen villages in the Upper Region Region (URR), one hundred and sixty families from four villages in the Central River Region (CRR)  and more than two hundred and fifty families in Western Region.

According to him, the Caravan of Mercy is currently operating in six countries namely: Ghana, Kenya, Bangaladesh, India, Senegal  and The Gambia. He emphasised that the organisation do not discriminate in giving out charity; that it does so irrespective of age, race, tribe and religion. "Our consignment is not for our friends, family members or close allies but to support people based on humanitarian grounds," he remarked. He then disclosed that they do assist people in Senegal particularly in the southern region of Casamance.

He then highlighted some other projects his organisation has embarked on for some communities in the country, which include the construction of two Arabic schools where people can learn at no cost." All these, he added, is geared towards complimenting the efforts of the government in the education sector.

He assured the gathering that his organisation will continue to help the poor, the needy particularly the ophan and the widow. Pa Modou Sillah, the Caravan of Mercy's overseas coordinator, recalled the previous donations his organisation made especially during Tobaski feast and Ramadan.He expressed his profound gratitude to the government of The Gambia for allocating a land to his organisation for the construction of its headquarters in Brikama, Western Region.

Muhammed Shabir Sacranie, a member of the Board of Trustee of Caravan of Mercy also expressed similar sentiments, promising that their organisation will continue their good work. Imam Alhaji Momodou Bah of Medina Mannen, a beneficiary, thanked the Caravan of Mercy for assisting them during the month of Ramadan and Tobaski by giving them sugar, rice and oil, among their other needs. Rohey Bah, a mother of three orphans also expressed similar sentinments, while calling on other people, individuals, NGOs and philanthropists to emulate the Caravan of Mercy.