By Mariam Williams
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in conjunction with Gambia Food and Nutrition Association (GAFNA); Gambia Commission for Refugees (GCR) and the Association of Refugees in both rural and urban Gambia, over the weekend commemorated World Refugee Day-2020.
Held at GAFNA office in Bakau, the theme for this year’s commemoration was “Everyone Counts/Each Count”.
However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and in observance of social distancing, the event was observed in a form of a low-key affair, with speeches by officials and poems read by refugee students.
Commissioner of the GCR, Mr. Louis Mendy in describing the theme as “very key and central to refugees protection and humanitarian work, also argued it’s more relevant today as the whole world is engulfed in the global health pandemic.
He saw this year’s celebration as a reminder to all relevant stakeholders that in what “we do in terms of response during a pandemic or crisis situation, each and every one counts is our responsibility, hence refugees are no exception”.
The Gambia’s Refugee Commission chief added that, in their entire operation the slogan has been their watch word, saying “To us, each and every refugee counts irrespective of nationality or creed”.
Commissioner Mendy told the refugee day celebrants that the population of persons of concern in the Gambia today stands at 4,043 and 81 refugees and asylum seekers, respectively.
Executive Director of the Gambia Food and Nutrition Association (GAFNA), Mr. Yusufa J .Gomez, informed that GAFNA had been in partnership with UNHCR for more than two decades, and had since been implementing interventions geared towards the welfare of the refugees residing in 81 villages in Foni area of the West Coast Region (WCR) and in the Greater Banjul Area of the Gambia.
Gomez reminded that World Refugees Day is commemorated globally, each year, on June 20. “This event is a special moment for refugees, IDPs[Internally Displaced Persons] and stateless people to show solidarity with their host government and communities, as they continue to reside outside of their countries of origin, missing their other family members and loved ones,” he told the attendees.
According to the GAFNA official, the commemoration of the World Refugee Day demonstrates the strong bond of partnership and support that exist between UNHCR and other development partners in the drive to make refugees residing in the country “feel at home” since their arrival in the Gambia.
Gomez argued, “This is why an event like the one taking place today, known as “World Refugees Day”, with its befitting 2020 theme “everyone counts/each count”, is very significant and worth commemorating”.
The Executive Director thanked the host communities both in the rural and urban areas, and by extension the Government of The Gambia, for creating the conducive environment where their refugee brothers and sisters continue to live and enjoy the peace and hospitality of the Gambia.
In his remarks, Chairman, Board of Directors of GAFNA, Dr. Reuben L. Mboge, said GAFNA support to the refugees and other programmes would enhance and develop the well-being of all the refugees in the Gambia. He justified that this year’s commemoration was a low-key celebration because of the Covid pandemic the country finds itself in. He welcomed everyone at the GAFNA office grounds and urged them to make the day “a special day for all”.
Samon Lassy, representative of the Refugees; Alhagie Sako Drammeh, Chairman Board of Directors GCR; Kodou Njie, representative of the Ministry of Interior; and Lamin Daffeh, representative of the Director General of Gambia Immigration Department, also spoke at event.
A representative of refugee students read a speech and poem related to the theme of the celebrations, while the former and retired Head of Office of UNHCR Banjul Office, Mr Sekou Saho gave the vote of thanks.
