By Yusupha Jobe
A human rights activist also social commentator has urged President Barrow administration to create food banks in every regional capital across the country in order to avoid any potential basic food shortages amid corona virus pandemic.
Madi Jobarteh made the call on Kerr Fatu as he advised the government to put all mechanisms together to create food banks across regional capitals in the country to serve as source of feeding for identify vulnerable families. This he said will prevent potential basic food shortages among families throughout the 45 day extension of public State of Emergency.
“I think it is time government starts to reason on how to come up with tangible mechanism to create food banks in all regional headquarter across the country to provide assistance of basic food commodities to families that will need help during the course of lockdown, “he said.
He said “what make it more to easier is that we have a social protection project which is under the Department of Social Welfare which has a list of identified needy families. So, I think this will help those whose businesses and financial avenues are asked to close by the government.”
He urged the government to provide a bail-out package for businesses that were asked to close as measures to avoid public gatherings and prevent any possible spread of the pandemic.
“We have seen leaders in other African countries giving bail-out packages to businesses to keep them survive after the course of the pandemic. So we need to make sure all funds given to the country by World Bank or any other international donor in fighting COVID-19 should be put in to a good use.”
