The disaster mitigation and relief effort of the government through the National Disaster Management Governing Council continues to be complemented by stakeholders in both public and the private sectors of the country.

The latest batch to come on board yesterday was various business corporate companies, as well as humanitarian donors, who presented close to D200,000 and other valuable materials to the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House in Banjul.

Among them included Trust Bank Limited, who injected D100,000; Muna Zamat Aldawa Al Islamia D50,000, 40 bales of second hand clothing and 17 cartons containing copies of the Holy Qur'an, whilst Pass Trading donated D20,000. Other donors were Twins Way-Robert Claya Company and the Kanifing East Disaster Relief Committee, who donated D10,000.

Earmarked for assistance to disaster victims in the country, the gesture was described by authorities as timely, considering the number of households and people affected by flood and windstorm disasters.

Receiving the gesture, Vice President Njie-Saidy, who doubles as the chairperson of the National Disaster Management Governing Council, expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the benefactors on behalf of President Jammeh, whom, she told the gathering, is the brainchild of the disaster management initiative in the country. She described the intervention as timely, noting that it will go a long way in boosting their efforts.

She assured the donors that the gesture is something that will benefit people at the grassroot level, who are in dire need of support.

This year's disaster, she told the gathering has caused unprecedented destruction, leading to the loss of properties and household food items. As far as she is concern, disaster issue is not just about relief but a pertinent development issue since it could affect any spheres of development.

Reiterating gratitude to the donors, the vice president used the opportunity to call on other stakeholders to come on board and complement efforts in disaster management.

Speaking earlier, the minister of Local Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, joined Dr Njie-Saidy in commending the donors for the move, assuring them of government's appreciation of the humanitarian gestures. He noted that the gesture is important and that anything that comes from the bottom of the heart is not small.

For his part, Essa Khan, executive director of the National Disaster Management Agency, acknowledged the solidarity and support extended to his institution by various stakeholders in recent times.

Khan informed the gathering that his agency's consolidated damage assessment report on this year's disaster, indicated that over one thousand households and fourteen thousand people have been affected by various disasters in the country. He indicated that out of this figure, close to nine thousand female and five thousand male have been affected. He further revealed that close to four hundred livestocks and other ruminants were also affected by the disasters.

In light of the above, Khan expressed his agency's resolve to work with development partners in putting in place national contingency planning, capacity building at the community level, development of an integrated and comprehensive early warning system, as well as vulnerability and hazard mapping, amongst a host of others.

Speaking while presenting their token, Remi Joiner of Trust Bank Limited, said the Bank's move was a fulfillment of its annual disaster relief support and commended President Jammeh for creating the enabling environment for them to operate their business.

Pa Sulayman Secka of Pass Trading Company, expressed delight in assisting the disaster victims, whom he said are in need of assistance. He pledged his company's resolve to assist the National Disaster Management Agency with office equipment to enhance their work.

Mohammed Momin, regional director of Muna Zamat Aldawa Al Islamia, whose organisation initially donated fifty thousand dalasis and fifty bales of second hand clothing, also expressed delight for coming on board again to give support to the victims. He expressed his organisation's resolve to further complement government's effort in the future.

Neneh Secka of the Twins Way-Robert Claya company and Imam Baba Leigh of the Kanifing East Disaster Relief Committee both expressed similar sentiments.

They both hailed President Jammeh for creating the conducive environment for their activities, as well as his pragmatic activities in humanitarian issues.