Dozens of Gambian students in China and Sweden have complained about not receiving allowances the government had promised overseas students amid coronavirus pandemic.

The Gambia government in April announced a D29.1 million support package to help Gambian students abroad. 

Many overseas Gambian students have told Gambiana that they are yet to receive their allowances.

Speaking on behalf of the overseas students, Musa Baldeh, a Gambian student at Linkoping University in Sweden, said since the announcement by the government they have summitted their forms to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but are yet to receive the promise funds.

“But almost two months now, I did not receive any email or information regarding the COVID-19 support fund. I made efforts to enquire from my colleagues here but all those I talked to mention that they also didn’t receive a butut yet,” he said.

Aboulie Jallow, a Gambian student in China, said only 198 Gambian students in China have received allowances from the funds, adding “two of the beneficiaries are staff of the Ministry of Higher Education studying in China.

“I know the two students very well. I came with them to China. These people are on salary in The Gambia and they have full scholarship in China.”

Mr Jallow also said self-sponsored and private-sponsored students were not receiving food aid at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in China when  schools and universities were closed. 

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs was contacted for comment.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba