The Gambia Red Cross Society, in collaboration with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFCR) Dakar Zone responsible for West and Central African countries, on Monday, began a five-day Regional Food Security Assessment Training (RFSAT) workshop at the Sea View Garden Hotel, Kololi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kanja Sanneh, secretary of state for Agriculture acknowledged the role played by these organisations in ensuring food availability.

According to him the training will further strengthen the capacities of the Red Cross national societies responsible for Food security Assessment, Programming and Analysis (FSAPA).  "The Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies' intervention in this area, demonstrates your understanding of how vulnerable populations normally become, the risk involve, the causes and impact of disasters on the immediate and future well being of affected populations," he said.

SoS Sanneh challenged participants at the training to look at the different components of food security ranging from availability, accessibility and utilisation of food in the communities and at household level. He noted that the training will compliment sub-regional governments' efforts in identifying food security gaps and means and methods of handling them when they arise.  He urged participants to meaningfully utilise the knowledge gained from the training to support their governments as auxiliary bodies to public authorities.

For her part, Fatou Mas Jobe, president of the Gambia Red Cross Society, who doubles as the managing director of Dunes Resort and Casino underscored the importance of the training.

She said poverty and exclusion are the root causes of vulnerability and that the cruel fate of vulnerable people, especially in Africa is exacerbated by disease, disaster and conflict.

"To be able to deal with what lies ahead, we need to be prepared to fulfil our mission in this changing world. Given the global challenges we face, good cooperation among all participants, including states, is indispensable to face them successfully," she concluded.