CHICAGO, IL — Zakat Foundation of America has returned to The Gambia to launch a nationwide distribution initiative of 125,000 kilograms of rice, extending the organization's growing humanitarian footprint in the country and responding to a hunger crisis that has intensified in recent years. The effort follows the organization’s April donation of a 40-foot container of medical supplies and equipment to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH).
Rice is a dietary cornerstone for Gambian families, and access to it has grown increasingly precarious. According to the World Food Programme, food insecurity in The Gambia has more than tripled since 2016, and nearly half the population lives in poverty. The country's agricultural sector, though it employs the majority of the rural workforce, meets less than half of national food requirements, leaving families exposed to import costs, currency depreciation, and climate shocks that can upend a harvest and, with it, a household's food supply for the year.
The initiative draws on Zakat Foundation of America’s broader rice campaign, which has long treated rice as one of the most direct and dignified ways to address hunger: a single, culturally familiar staple that stretches into dozens of meals for a family and can be distributed quickly and reliably even in hard-to-reach areas. The Gambia distribution applies that model nationwide, rather than to a single region or season, reflecting the scale of need that Zakat Foundation of America’s local partners have identified.
Beneficiaries have been identified with the support of local individuals, community organizations, hospitals, orphanages, schools, religious institutions, and other partners. Distribution sites have been selected across the country, and beneficiaries have already been notified, allowing the delegation to move directly into distribution upon arrival.
“On behalf of beneficiaries, allow me to express our profound gratitude to you and your Foundation. We pray to Almighty to give your Foundation more resources to be able to help more people,” shared Mr. Sanneh Dahaba, the Director of the National Disaster Management Agency.
A delegation from Zakat Foundation of America Headquarters is working closely with representatives from the Sunu Reew Medical Mission, one of the Zakat Foundation of America’s key implementing partners in The Gambia, to strengthen collaboration and advance shared humanitarian and healthcare initiatives.
The rice distribution is the latest chapter in a partnership that has deepened steadily over the past two years. In February 2024, Zakat Foundation of America and The Gambia Academy convened a summit with experts from UNESCO to advance education reform in the country. In April, Zakat Foundation of America delivered a container of medical equipment to EFSTH, expanding the hospital's capacity to serve patients.
Founded more than 25 years ago by Halil Demir, the Zakat Foundation of America now operates in more than 50 countries, providing food security, medical aid, education, orphan care, and emergency relief to vulnerable communities worldwide. This initiative reflects the organization’s continued commitment to strengthening local partnerships and providing practical, sustained support to families throughout The Gambia.
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Founded in 2001 by Khalil Demir, Zakat Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 NGO that helps generous and caring people reach out to those in need. Zakat Foundation of America’s mission is to address immediate needs and ensure the self-reliance of the poorest people around the world. Zakat Foundation of America conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 45 countries on five continents. For more information, please visit ZAKAT.org or call 1-888-ZAKAT-US
