An international aid agency has opened a field office in Gambia to combat the rising poverty in West Africa.

One of Africa's smallest countries, Gambia has suffered from slow economic growth and an uneven income, predominantly for those in the rural areas. About 60 per cent of the population falls below the poverty line, where more than 70 per cent depend upon agriculture for their livelihood. The literacy rate in females is currently 32.8 per cent, while among men it is 47.8 per cent.

"Muslim Aid has been operating in Gambia and in the whole region for a number of years with several partner organizations," said Hamid Azad, head of overseas programmes at Muslim Aid. "The Gambia office has been set up in order to respond to the growing needs and challenges that local people are facing."

From Gambia, Muslim Aid will work on projects such as drought, which often affects countries in the Sahel region, such as Niger and Mauritania. The office will operate out of Banjul, the capital of Gambia.

"The Gambia office has been set up to work primarily on youth and education to begin with, gradually moving into other projects like orphan care, water and sanitation," said Hamid Azad. "Muslim Aid Gambia will oversee the international relief agency's operations in the region of West Africa, seeking to alleviate poverty and providing help and assistance to as many children as possible, and in the process aid Gambia's economic development."

(ENDS)