As part of the online training on safer access organized by the IFRC and the Geneva Learning Foundation, this case study on the population movement in the Gambia following the post-election crisis of 2016-2017 was conducted. . The aim is to demonstrate how the concept of safer access should be applicable in a context with the presence of a multitude of belligerents where the Red Cross Movement aims to provide efficient assistance to the beneficiaries while also putting into practice the Civil-military coordination concepts.

1. CASE STUDY GAMBIA POPULATION MOVEMENT 2016- 2017
Safer Access to ERU Personal by the IFRC and the Geneva Learning Foundation for
successful completion of the SAF4ERU exercise Online Training April –May 2018
By Sadrack Bertrand Matanda
Disaster Management Expert
Résumé
Dans le cadre de la formation en ligne sur l’accès plus sure organisée par la FICR et la
Geneva Learning Fondation, il a été realisée cette étude de cas portant sur le mouvement
de population en Gambie suite à la crise post électorale de 2016-2017.
L’objectif étant de démontrer comment le concept accès plus sure devrait être applicable
dans un contexte avec la présence d’une multitude de belligérants où le Mouvement Croix
Rouge à le souci d’apporter une assistance efficience aux bénéficiaires tout en mettant en
pratique également les notions de coordination Civilo-militaires.
Part 1 – Context
The Gambia is a country of more than 300
km inside Senegalese territory. It shares a
common border with seven regions of
Senegal, which are: Kaolack, Fatick,
Tambacounda, Kaffrine, Kolda, Sédhiou and
Ziguinchor. During the presidential elections
in December 2016, the political situation in
The Gambia was a concern because of the outgoing President's challenge to the results.
Despite the efforts of the international community for a peaceful resolution, the situation
remained tense causing massive displacement of populations towards Senegal.
Indeed, according to UNHCR, more than 45,000 people have reportedly crossed the
Senegalese borders. These displaced persons have been comprised of Gambians,
Senegalese, Sierra Leoneans, Mauritanians, Guineans, Malians and Ivoirians1
. Information
collected by the various local committees of the Senegalese Red Cross Society (SRCS) in
areas bordering The Gambia have reported more than 27,563 displaced persons, including
1,851 children under five years old, 347 pregnant women, and 602 elderly persons
This massive population movement caused a critical humanitarian situation Even though the
first arrivals were absorbed by host populations, during the last few days, massive inflow of
displaced persons that exceed local communities’ capacities has been noted. The increasing
number of arrivals has put high pressure on host communities that have been no longer able
to face the urgent needs of accommodation, food, water and latrines.
_________________________
1
http://reliefweb.int/map/gambia/senegalgambia-displaced-people-19-january-2017

2. Food stocks have been running low in
host communities that were already
vulnerable. There have been very few
partners in the area responding to the
increasing needs of displaced persons
and host communities. Some displaced
persons have settled in the capital city
Dakar and have not had any support.
The security situation has evolved with
the departure into exile of the out-going
President on 21 January, 2017.
Thousands of people have returned home
from Senegal as the country’s new
President pledged stability. People have
been crossing back through the various
borders (Ziguinchor, Foundiougne, Kerr
Ayib and Amdallai). Some people headed
home in private cars, on motorcycles, or
by bus. Others have been going back
through informal crossings on the
northern and southern borders. Many
people needed assistance to go back
home. Hence buses sent by the
Senegalese and Gambian authorities to
help repatriate displaced people.
The ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia or the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia
(abbreviated ECOMIG)– code-named Operation Restore Democracy – is a military
intervention in 2017 by several West African countries to resolve a breakdown of internal
order in the government of the Gambia due to a constitutional crisis in a dispute over the
country's presidency. Its brief period of conflict was precipitated by the refusal to step down
from power of Yahya Jammeh, the long-standing President of the Gambia, after he disputed
the victory of Adama Barrow in the 2016 presidential election.
As a result of the intervention, Jammeh was forced to step down and go into exile two days
after the initial military incursion. Following his departure, 4,000 ECOWAS troops remained in
the Gambia to maintain order in preparation for Barrow to return and consolidate his
presidency. Five days later, Barrow returned to the Gambia while requesting the ECOWAS
troops (now numbering about 2,500) to stay for at least six months to help him firmly
establish order. Although there were a few reports of isolated minor clashes during the first
few hours of the military incursion, there were no reports of casualties.

3. Part II -Events
Volunteers from the National Societies of
The Gambia and Senegal facilitate the
transfer of the displaced after the post-
election crisis in The Gambia
The link below presents in a short video
achievement during the mission in
Gambia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYpa
2NXBxzc
Tasks/ Objectives Achievement
Contribute to the in-depth
assessment of the actual situation
and needs of displaced
communities and host families
As Team Leader, we conducted two (2) in-depth
evaluations to highlight the needs of Gambian IDPs and
host families. These evaluations led to the completion of the
DREF review and advise the two National Societies to
collaborate on beneficiary assistance and capacity building.
Contribute to identifying and
selecting beneficiaries with the
participation of communities
During the two (2) evaluations, we favored community
participation through focus groups through our mixed teams
during this reflection the vulnerability criteria were defined
and the identification of priority classes for assistance. This
phase began with general community meetings. - Selection
by the local authorities / local technical services / selection
committee on the basis of these criteria and classes Public
Validation of the final lists, at a new meeting
Support the implementation of
activities following the review of
DREF with the new activities.
After the two in-depth evaluations we had working sessions
with the CRS executives to develop the new strategy taking
into account the realities on the ground including the
funding needs of the return trip of the impoverished
Gambian IDPs, a substantial support in the form of Cash
Transfer to Gambian Families and Capacity Building
Support the National Society in
logistical procedures and
transportation of the displaced;
We have given guidance to NS regarding the replacement
of IDP supplies and advise NS on the transport mechanism
for IDPs who would like to return to The Gambia.
Support the National Society for
better service through a monetary
transfer modality
Taking into account the results of the evaluation and
referring to the state norms (social safety nets), we have
suggested with the orientation of the operation manager, an
unconditional cash support in order to allow the families
hosting the displaced people to to provide for the needs
without any constraint on the part of the National Society
Support NS to facilitate reporting We helped to provide the reporting department with the
weekly and monthly reports, not to mention the fact that we
contributed to the data collection methodology necessary
for an adequate reporting through the training initiated and
directed to the regional managers

4. Part III lessons learned
The SAF( Safer Access Framework) comprises eight elements (see Figure 1), each
grouping a number of actions and measures that, if taken, have been shown to help National
Societies increase their acceptance, security and access to people and communities with
humanitarian needs in sensitive and insecure contexts.
For this case study With the presence
of militaries forces from all the
tendencies The National Society have
to work here on two elements of Safer
access framework ;
1- Context and risk assessment
National Societies have a clear
understanding of the interlinked
political, social, cultural and economic
aspects of the evolving operational
environment and the inherent risks,
which forms the basis for preventing
and managing those risks.
2- Internal communication and
coordination National Societies
implement well-developed internal
communication and coordination
strategies and mechanisms, which
enhance coordination with other
Movement components.
This should be done in coordination
with the militaries to enable the access
to the beneficiaries in reference to the
following statement ; “engaging in a
dialogue with other civil-military coordination actors to support the activities of the
humanitarian community in upholding humanitarian principles and facilitating the provision of
the right assistance, to the right people, at the right time, in the most appropriate way”2
2 for more details; https://reliefweb.int/report/world/un-cmcoord-field-handbook-v10