By: Nyima Sillah
Over thousand Gambians have expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s food package distribution which was meant to help 84 percent households amid the coronavirus pandemic, as they claimed corruption in the entire process.
Amie Sonko a native of Nemasu Layout told The Voice she was denied from receiving her share of the food aid after going back and forth for three weeks.
“The distribution is not going accordingly because some people don’t even follow the instruction but they still have the foods,” she said.
According to her, some names were wrongly registered in the computer which makes identification difficult and sometimes leads to the delay of some distributions or give less to a person who should have more than what is expected for dependent of a home.
She added: “When I went there on my first day, they told me that they are giving it to those whose names were registered during Ramadan, I told them yes my name was registered during Ramadan and they gave me a small paper and told me to come back the following day, but today marks my fourth day and I could still get even a single bag of rice none sugar.”
“The government should look into to the matter as all names were taken months before the distribution and each compound has its own name so in that case no issues should come up this last minute.
“We did not have the food distribution on the actual time and now so many challenges as if we are not citizens of the country,” she said.
Another native of Nemasu kuwqreh, Binta Sanneh said: “Every day I go to the sukuta field as early as 7am just to make sure that I get the food items, but they gave me different types of tickets and I still don’t have anything.”
“I was surprised that a neighbor of mine got there the first day and got rice, sugar and oil and we both registered on the same day. I doubt if this distribution is even fair,” she added.
Mariama Njie also echoed similar complains as she said a lot should be done regarding the distribution of the food package if not many would not have.