The Gambia Red Cross Society in partnership with the UNHCR on Thursday 14th March, 2019 launched the IDENTIFICATION, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL OF PERSONS CONCERN TO UNHCR WITHIN MIXED MOVEMENTS held at the Gambia Red Cross Society’s headquarters in Kanifing. The project aims to improve the identification, access to information, and referral of people in need of international protection in The Gambia moving within mixed flows.
The representative of UNHCR Mr. Omar Camara took us through the activities of the project’s; he stated that the first activity is to build the capacity of the Red Cross volunteers deployed in the field in the areas of international protection and mixed movements. Protection Focal Points are jointly identified during these sessions by the Gambia Red Cross Society and UNHCR.
The second activity includes mapping of existing protection and assistance services. Red Cross Volunteers will collect information relating to all entities, formal and informal including governmental, non-governmental, international and religious organizations, which he said provides protection and assistance on the Gambian territory along migratory routes. These services include provision of legal counsel, food, clothing, education, shelter, as well as items relating to health and sanitation.
Mr. Camara further stated that the third activity on the project is Alert Mechanism i.e. constant monitoring of movements by Red Cross Volunteers, Alerts Movements, and Screening of persons on the move for potential international protection needs. Once screening is conducted Camara continued, protection focal points refer persons in need of international protection to relevant assistance and protection services using the mapping of existing assistance and protection services. “Assistance for transport of potential asylum-seekers/ refugees identified outside of Banjul will be provided”.
The UNHCR Rep. went on stating that a total of 100 person of concern is also targeted to benefit from a cash transfer program with the project. In collaboration with UNHCR, the alerts and situation reports are used to establish a monthly situational map of movements within The Gambia. This map he said identifies the location and scope of mixed movements flows, and includes information relating to the profiles of persons involved.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the acting president of the Gambia Red Cross Society, the Chairperson of West Coast Red Cross Branch Lamin Darboe stated that the current trends in the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as of other migrants, are less than encouraging. He said more and more lives are being under threat of lack of protection and sufficient information as to how and where such support could be sought. “The complex nature of these situations means the work of our Red Cross Volunteers and Staff is more important than ever”. Due to this reasons, the International Red Cross Movement was able to launch a campaign dubbed “Stop Indifference” which he said is aimed at protecting lives and dignity of vulnerable migrants.
Darboe further reiterated that the Gambia Red Cross will continue to complement government’s development efforts and also continue to play a key role in providing assistance to people affected by disaster, reuniting missing family members’ provision of First Aid and Ambulance Services, Blood Donor recruitment, and working in resilience building for vulnerable communities. He said they will continue to use their wide and strong network of volunteers who are also members of the communities to strengthen and promote international protection.
He further noted that they will also seek to improve the Identification, access to Information, and Referral of people in need of international protection in The Gambia. “I wish to use this opportunity to sincerely thank the UNHCR for the confidence in partnering with the GRCS. We look forward to working with all other actors including Civil Society Organizations and local authorities in delivering on this very important project”. He concluded.
The project will cover all the 7 Regions in The Gambia and the number of people to run it are: Headquarters level 5 volunteers, Branch offers 7, Regional Protection Focal Points(volunteers) 14 and Field volunteers 70.
REPORTER: ADAM DRAMMEH
The representative of UNHCR Mr. Omar Camara took us through the activities of the project’s; he stated that the first activity is to build the capacity of the Red Cross volunteers deployed in the field in the areas of international protection and mixed movements. Protection Focal Points are jointly identified during these sessions by the Gambia Red Cross Society and UNHCR.
The second activity includes mapping of existing protection and assistance services. Red Cross Volunteers will collect information relating to all entities, formal and informal including governmental, non-governmental, international and religious organizations, which he said provides protection and assistance on the Gambian territory along migratory routes. These services include provision of legal counsel, food, clothing, education, shelter, as well as items relating to health and sanitation.
Mr. Camara further stated that the third activity on the project is Alert Mechanism i.e. constant monitoring of movements by Red Cross Volunteers, Alerts Movements, and Screening of persons on the move for potential international protection needs. Once screening is conducted Camara continued, protection focal points refer persons in need of international protection to relevant assistance and protection services using the mapping of existing assistance and protection services. “Assistance for transport of potential asylum-seekers/ refugees identified outside of Banjul will be provided”.
The UNHCR Rep. went on stating that a total of 100 person of concern is also targeted to benefit from a cash transfer program with the project. In collaboration with UNHCR, the alerts and situation reports are used to establish a monthly situational map of movements within The Gambia. This map he said identifies the location and scope of mixed movements flows, and includes information relating to the profiles of persons involved.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the acting president of the Gambia Red Cross Society, the Chairperson of West Coast Red Cross Branch Lamin Darboe stated that the current trends in the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, as well as of other migrants, are less than encouraging. He said more and more lives are being under threat of lack of protection and sufficient information as to how and where such support could be sought. “The complex nature of these situations means the work of our Red Cross Volunteers and Staff is more important than ever”. Due to this reasons, the International Red Cross Movement was able to launch a campaign dubbed “Stop Indifference” which he said is aimed at protecting lives and dignity of vulnerable migrants.
Darboe further reiterated that the Gambia Red Cross will continue to complement government’s development efforts and also continue to play a key role in providing assistance to people affected by disaster, reuniting missing family members’ provision of First Aid and Ambulance Services, Blood Donor recruitment, and working in resilience building for vulnerable communities. He said they will continue to use their wide and strong network of volunteers who are also members of the communities to strengthen and promote international protection.
He further noted that they will also seek to improve the Identification, access to Information, and Referral of people in need of international protection in The Gambia. “I wish to use this opportunity to sincerely thank the UNHCR for the confidence in partnering with the GRCS. We look forward to working with all other actors including Civil Society Organizations and local authorities in delivering on this very important project”. He concluded.
The project will cover all the 7 Regions in The Gambia and the number of people to run it are: Headquarters level 5 volunteers, Branch offers 7, Regional Protection Focal Points(volunteers) 14 and Field volunteers 70.
REPORTER: ADAM DRAMMEH