The Red Cross Links of Wellingara, Abuko, Fajikunda and Kunkujang within the Kanifing Municipality and Western Region under the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) on Friday began a ten-day capacity building training for volunteers of the entire aforementioned links on disaster preparedness and response.

The training is currently underway at the Lamin Daranka Lower Basic School in Kombo North, Western Region.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sanna Singhateh of the GRCS said the training is aimed at alleviating human suffering and improving the situation of the most vulnerable through the power of humanity.

He spoke at length about their interventions in disaster cases such as the Haiti earthquake, the Tsunami etc. He further alluded that the Gambia Red Cross Society under the auspices of the ICRC also intervenes in similar issues in the alleviation of human sufferings through the power of humanity.

He finally thanked the Red Cross members for their continuous collaboration and enthusiasm in acquiring knowledge to alleviate human sufferings.For his part, Ismaila Gibba, a youth representative, informed that the Western Region Red Cross branch is the first branch office of the GRCS, established in 1990. He said the branch is having 9 districts with a co-ordinator in each district and a total number of 145 links from 2008-2009.