By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a powerful demonstration of cross-border solidarity, the Zakat Foundation of America, in partnership with the Sunu Reew Medical Mission (SRMM), on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, distributed five fully loaded 20-foot containers of rice to prisons, hospitals, religious institutions, women’s groups, orphanages, disability centers and hundreds of vulnerable families across The Gambia.
Officials described the large-scale humanitarian gesture as a significant milestone that underscores the two organizations’ unity and shared commitment to reaching segments of society often overlooked by donors. Prisons and public hospitals, in particular, have historically received limited attention from philanthropists despite their critical nutritional needs.
Victoria Lissong Richards-Ohwotu, Founder and Executive Director of Sunu Reew Medical Mission, said the rice donation builds on a previous successful collaboration with Zakat Foundation of America, during which a 40-foot container of medical supplies, equipment and consumables was delivered to Gambian health facilities.
“This donation of rice is intended to improve the nutritional quality of meals for inmates, hospital patients, orphans, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable families,” she explained. “All beneficiaries were thoroughly vetted to ensure the assistance reaches those who need it most. The list includes mosques, churches, Islamic learning centers, women’s groups, schools for the blind and the Gambia Prisons Service.”
Richards-Ohwotu reaffirmed SRMM’s dedication to attracting more support for Gambians, promising continued partnerships focused on healthcare, education and improved livelihoods for the most disadvantaged.
Salma Demir, representing Zakat Foundation of America, emphasized that the initiative was conceived around the principles of solidarity, unity and community.
“The strong collaboration between our foundation and Sunu Reew Medical Mission has enabled this generous distribution to those who need it most,” Demir stated. She added that the Foundation, together with its partners, remains committed to supporting The Gambia through interventions in health, education and vocational skills development.
Demir noted that prisoners and hospital patients are frequently sidelined in donor interventions. “The donated rice will support daily feeding programs in prisons and hospitals, helping inmates and patients maintain good health and mental well-being,” she said.
She further highlighted the broader impact: “The rice will enable vulnerable families to feed their children adequately. Providing food to children is not only a societal, moral or religious duty – it is a fundamental human right.”
Demir urged beneficiaries to use the donations responsibly. “I always advise people to remain honest, consistent and uphold integrity. These items come from donors who have dug deep into their pockets. Therefore, everything should be used with gratitude and for its intended purpose.”
Tajiri Jarju expressed appreciation to Zakat Foundation of America for trusting Sunu Reew Medical Mission with the distribution and called on recipients to utilize the rice judiciously.
Fabel Jarju, also of Sunu Reew Medical Mission, provided further details on the beneficiaries. Five major hospitals received supplies: Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Bwiam General Hospital, Farafenni General Hospital, Kanifing General Hospital and Bundung Maternity and Child Welfare Hospital. Disability groups, orphanages, religious organizations and the Tressor Warriors women’s group were also included. The Gambia Prisons Service alone received 90 bags of 50kg rice.
Jarju noted that this is not the first intervention by Zakat Foundation of America in The Gambia. The organization previously donated a container of medical items and equipment valued at more than $14 million to various hospitals nationwide.
The distribution has been widely welcomed as a timely boost to food security for thousands of Gambians at a time when nutritional support remains critical for institutional and community welfare. Both organizations pledged to sustain and expand such partnerships in the months ahead.
