credit to Gambianet.com

FYI

Tuesday 24/08/99

 MORE DEATHS AT SEA DUE TO HEAVY
 STORMS

 It has just been confirmed that more than twenty people have
 died at sea in the pase seven days due to heavy storms.

 Most of the deaths occurred in the high sea during the night
 when most Gambian fishermen set for their fishing
 expedition. At least in Gunjur town alone in Kombo South
 Western Division, fishermen are mourning the death of 18 of
 their colleagues whose boat capsized.

 Although a rescue mission is still searching for people, it is
 feared that most of the missing fishermen in Gunjur area are
 dead. The Kartong police has in the meanwhile rescued two
 fishermen around the Ellingking creek near the border with
 cassamance.

 The Ghanian fishing community in the Gambia, has also
 reported that six of their men missing since last week after
 they confronted a rough sea during their fishing expedition.
 Although a number of Ghanian fishermen whose boat
 capsized swam ashore, two of them died in the process
 including a student.



 Monday 23/08/99

 RAINSTORMS DESTROY OVER 500 HOUSES
 ACROSS THE COUNTRY

 According to reports, heavy rainstorms have destroyed over
 500 houses on Wednesday, August 18. The biggest areas
 hit are the Upper River and Central River Divisions.

 In Kaur alone, reports have it that 300 houses have been
 destroyed, rendering the town’s affected inhabitants
 completely horrified about the spate of the destruction. In
 addition, falling roofs have caused serious injuries to a
 number of people who are being treated at a local health
 center.

 In the Upper River Division (URD), many villages that
 surround the administrative town of Basse have been
 severely affected by rainstorms as well. In fact, the Divisional
 Commissioner of the URD has made an emergency appeal
 for support to flood victims. Already many people have
 indicated their willingness to help the victims but the roads
 and major highways leading to these areas are cut off from
 the rest of the country, seriously affecting the movement of
 goods and people as well as relief efforts in the area.

 The Basse hospital is currently treating a pregnant woman
 who sustained serious injuries when the house she was
 living in collapsed on her. She is said to be responding
 positively to her treatment.

 Over two thousand people have been rendered homeless.
 Relatives and friends are sheltering the majority of the people
 affected.

 The Commissioner of URD has in the meantime mobilised
 youths in the Division to embark on self-help programmes to
 reconstruct the affected roads for resumption of traffic and
 relief efforts.

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