The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) recently held a day’s forum to sensitise the National Assembly members on the protection of the Red Cross emblem at the Dunes Holiday Resort in Kololi. 

Speaking at the ceremony, the deputy chief of defence staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Yankuba Drammeh, who spoke on the role and responsibility of The Gambia Armed Forces in the protection of the Red Cross emblem, described the workshop as significant and timely.
 He said the forum afforded them the opportunity to reflect and discuss pertinent and though provoking issues that hinge on the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and other related subject areas. “The subject of IHL otherwise known as ‘The law of Armed Conflict’ is an important aspect for the armed and security services especially in the discharge of their constitutional obligations and other assigned roles; both in peace  and war time situation.

The subject of IHL continues to agitate the minds of the international organisations, non-governmental organisations, government officials, civil societies, religious leaders and military leaders by virtue of its sensitive nature and significance in contemporary world order,” deputy CDS Drammeh remarked. 

Delivering the opening statement, Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie, the president of The Gambia Red Cross Society, narrated that one hundred and fifty years ago, a battle in northern Italy led to an idea that has since gone on to change the world, noting that in June 1859, Henry Dunant, a young Geneva businessman witnessed the horrifying suffering and agony at the battle of Solferino. In response, she added, Henry Dunant mobilized the people to care for the wounded, regardless of their nationality.

According to her, today, the world is faced with challenges more than the ones we had for the past 150 years ago. She said the need for humanitarian action is no less today than it was in Dunant’s time. “I must confess that this forum is timely as we renew our vision for a changing world. Such complex and interconnected challenges requires a transformation in attitudes to change the way we live, how we relate to each other and how we can work together for humanity,” Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie told the participants. The GRCS president also noted that achieving this requires a change of mind-set. She noted that it needs a mind-set based on the imperative of taking consistent action to persuade decision and law making bodies like the GRCS to act at all times, in the interest of vulnerable people.

Mamodou Bah, secretary general of The Gambia Red Cross Society for his part, noted that the GRCS is quite active in various thematic areas and is one of the best institutions in the country to adequately; strictly and timely respond to disasters and emergencies that happen. According to him, the scope and dimensions of disaster is increasing and they are changing in terms of scope.  “As we have witnessed all around the world, The Gambia is not an exception as we have seen lot of floods in the country,” he said.

Delivering the welcoming statement, Fabakary Kalleh, the chairperson of the Information, Communication and Education Commission of the Gambia Red Cross Society, said that The Gambia Red Cross was established by an Act of Parliament. He spoke at length on the Act and called on people to complement their efforts.