Family of windstorm victim gets D40, 000

Family a man who died as a result of last week’s windstorm has been given D40, 000 as a condolences gift.

Modou Ndow, who was village head of Kerr Selleh in Jokadou, North Bank Region, met his untimely death after a branch of tree knocked him down by the Wednesday’s tragic windstorm.

Nine other people including a 5-year-old boy were killed by the windstorm, internally displaced 1500 people and left more than 3,000 people severely affected.

Barely two days after the tragedy, President Adama Barrow toured the affected communities and families to show his care and sympathy.

At a stop in Kerr Selleh village, President Barrow commiserated with the family of the deceased and all the victims of the dreadful weather event. The President gave D40, 000 to the family of the deceased, and assured the community of government’s swift intervention as the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) assesses the scale and impact of the damage.

In an address to the nation, President Barrow said, “government is aware of the scale of the damage caused by this natural tragedy” and that it has “since taken immediate steps to address the situation”. While calling on relevant agencies to look into preventative approaches to such natural calamities, he admonished for collective and concerted endeavour in assisting the victims.

The NDMA has reported that 10 people have been killed by the windstorm, and 1531 people internally displaced.

According to our officials on the ground with the presidential entourage, Ndow was hit by a tree branch that fell off during the windstorm.