Country Facts

• The Gambia is one of Africa’s small countries, consisting of strips of land on either side of the river Gambia. The population is less than two million people.
• Fufu is the staple food of The Gambia, and is made from cassava.
• Alex Haley’s book, Roots, is based on one of his ancestors who is sold as a slave from The Gambia.

Why children need your help

• Almost one in three children here suffer from stunting as a result of malnutrition.
• Cerebral malaria, one of the most severe forms of the disease, accounts for 30% of deaths of children under five.
• The life expectancy of the average Gambian is just 54 years.