Day two of a nationwide field visit sees top government officials survey hotspot areas in Giroba, Samba Tako, and Sabi ahead of the rainy season
His Excellency Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow visited three flood-prone communities in The Gambia’s Upper River Region (URR) on the second day of an official field tour of project sites across the country. Accompanied by the Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Mr. Sanna Dahaba, URR Governor Mr. Samba Bah, and members of the wider delegation, the Vice President toured the areas of Giroba, Samba Tako, and Sabi communities identified as recurring flood hotspots.
The visit forms part of an annual preparedness exercise jointly coordinated by the NDMA and the Office of the Vice President. The exercise is intended to identify vulnerable flood zones across the country before the onset of the rainy season, allowing government to plan targeted interventions in the most affected communities.
Speaking to the media following the site tour, NDMA Executive Director Mr. Sanna Dahaba welcomed the Vice President’s participation and underscored the importance of early planning. “Every year, the NDMA, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, looks at what we call a preparedness plan to look at our flood-prone areas across the country. This is why we are embarking on this, so that we can adequately plan and prepare in anticipation for the rainy season,” he said.
Dahaba further explained that the findings gathered during the visit would be brought back to Banjul, where the Vice President is expected to convene a meeting with engineers to deliberate on solutions for each affected community. “This is why we are in URR to look at the flood-prone areas, to look at some of the hotspots, so that when we go back, the Vice President can organise a meeting with the engineers, so that we can share those issues with them to see how best the government can address those issues in the community,” he added.
The annual flood preparedness tours reflect a broader government strategy of proactive disaster risk management. The Gambia’s low-lying river basin geography makes several communities vulnerable to seasonal flooding, with the Upper River Region among the areas historically most affected. The direct involvement of the Vice President signals a strong commitment from the highest levels of government to prioritise community protection ahead of the rains.
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