The Gambia
The Gambia is the smallest country on the continent of Africa and one of the least developed countries in the world. Approximately one-third of the country currently lives below the poverty line.
The Gambia’s lack of arable land, poor soil quality, and erratic rain translates into hardship for a country where a large portion of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Rising hunger rates and a lack of basic social services has increased Gambians dependency on humanitarian assistance.
News From The Gambia
Indian Ocean Tsunami
During the Month of Ramadan, 2009, the West African nation of Gambia experienced some of the heaviest rainfall in two years. Flash floods roared through villages and towns when rivers overflowed in Basse, Janjanbureh and Mansakonko. Zakat Foundation extended its Ramadan food program to victims of the Gambia floods, providing hot Iftar-dinners, food packages and clean water to hundreds of… continue reading »
Emergency Relief
Seasonal Programs
Zakat Foundation of America, a Muslim charity that collects zakat, sadaqa / donations to provide humanitarian, emergency relief and sustainable development programs to empower lives throughout the world. We offer top Zakat resources including The Zakat Handbook: A Practical Guide for Muslims in the West, Zakat kit, ask an Imam feature, and you can calculate and pay zakat through our easy, online calculator.
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Vital Stats
| Population: | 1,800,000 |
| Infant Mortality Rate: | 67 deaths / 1000 births |
| Life Expectancy: | 55 years |
| Major Diseases: | Very high risk bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasis, meningococcal meningitis, rabies |
| Religions: |
Muslim - 98% Christian - 2% |
| Literacy Rate: | 40 % |
| Unemployment Rate: | no data available |
| Poverty Rate: | no data available |
| Natural Hazards: | Drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years), floods |