Finance Center for South-South Cooperation of China donates 200,000 Facemasks to Banjul of The Gambia
26 April 2021, New York – UNOSSC’s Cities Project has partnered with the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC) to facilitate and mobilize the donation of 200,000 masks to the city of Banjul, The Gambia, to advocate for solidarity and mutual support among cities and partners in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The handover ceremony happened on 21 April, and was attended by Mrs. Rohey Malick Lowe, the Mayor of Banjul and President of The Gambian National Chapter of the Network of Locally Elected Women in Africa (REFELA); Madam Aissata De, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in The Gambia, councilors, members of the REFELA secretariat, staff members of the Banjul City Council and the media.
Banjul Mayor Mrs. Rohey Malick Lowe at the handing over ceremony. Source: Banjul City Council
Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe thanked FCSSC for this “exemplary gesture” and expressed interest in closer relations in mutual collaboration with the Center to “ensure a meaningful South-South Cooperation”. During her statement, she also talked about the timeliness of the initiative, further thanked UNOSSC and UNDP The Gambia for their support, and assured the gathering that the face masks will be put into good use.
UNDP The Gambia provided coordination and logistic support to this donation initiative.
Madam Aissata De highlighted the importance of Southern solidarity and UNDP’s role in working with agencies and partners to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic and in supporting socioeconomic recovery and South-South cooperation. She also explained that the masks delivery is very timely, because while Banjul’s vaccination campaign is being rolled out, people need to continue wearing face masks and social distancing.
Banjul became a city partner of the Cities Project in 2018. As of today, the city has received donations of 220,000 masks mobilized by the UNOSSC Cities Project from three partners in China. The innovative experience of Banjul in the response to COVID-19 has been included in a global publication to be launched soon by the Cities Project.
Madam Aissata De speaking. Source Banjul City Council
Distribution of masks. Source: Banjul City Council
Handover ceremony being filmed by the media. Source: Banjul City Council