276 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) including 27 pregnant and lactating women were on 24 March 2021 provided humanitarian support in the form of dignity kits, food supplies, clothing and sanitary items. This support was presented following a rapid assessment conducted by UNFPA on 23 March, to ascertain the needs of the people and categorise the urgency of the response required in Batokunku as a result of tensions in Sanyang between Senegalese fishermen and community members. This tension has forced the Senegalese fishermen and business owners and their families to flee the small fishing village of Sanyang to the nearby coastal community of Batokunku to seek refuge.

Including women, men, children and young people, the IDPs who are currently all sheltered in a nursery school compound in Batokunku village with the support of the Alkalo and other authorities, during the rapid assessment visit, expressed the need for support to be fed and clothed while efforts to mediate between the community members and settlers and reintegrate them back to their homes are underway.  

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Commissioner of Police of the West Coast Region highlighted that the presented items are timely and will help the displaced families in their stay at the temporary camp while mediation efforts led by the Village Development Committee, security forces and the Council of Elders in Sanyang are currently ongoing.

Presenting the items, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA The Gambia Country Representative highlighted that while hundreds of people remain vulnerable as a result of the recent tensions, women, including pregnant women, girls and children are especially at risk. This is why responses to conflict must cater to the needs and situation of all affected, especially those most vulnerable.

 “We cannot overemphasise the importance of peace in our communities. Conflicts are part of our socialisation, but how we address them makes a huge difference.” – Mr. Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA The Gambia Country Representative

Citing the need to restore peace in the community and ensure that social cohesion is fostered, Mr. Adeniyi noted that when conflict and instability happens, women and young people are most affected. Thus, it is vital that peace is promoted, built and sustained in order to advance development. This he said however, can only be realised through inclusive and active participation of all population groups in peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms.

Through the support of UN peacebuilding, UNFPA has been working with the Government of The Gambia other partners to support communities to build social cohesion and foster peaceful coexistence.

As part of its support to the IDP camp, the agency is also working to ensure access to maternal health care services for the pregnant and lactating mothers and is working with the Gambia Red Cross Society to create access to emergency medical services to all the IDPs including referral to nearby health facilities. Gender-Based Violence prevention activities including awareness raising efforts have also been initiated at the camp.

Media contact:

Haddy Jonga - Programme Analyst Communications, UNFPA The Gambia jonga@unfpa.org