Burma Link, December 29, 2013

Most recent assessment from Mae La refugee camp indicates that 57 houses were destroyed by the fire while another 70 houses were dismantled to stop the fire from spreading, affecting over 750 refugees. Three people have been injured.

The fire that broke out in Zone C Section 3 on Friday afternoon was quickly brought under control with the help of refugees, Thai fire trucks, Royal Thai Army, and local officials.

Naw Thida Moe, an elderly woman in the camp told Burma Link that “Two or three people had to go to Mae Sot hospital because they were injured when helping to put out the fire… I don’t know how the fire started, everyone is saying different things”.

“The fire was only two or three houses away from my house. I ran away from the house and the fire. But the wind was blowing the other way so my house was spared”, Naw Thida Moe continued.

Affected refugees have been staying with relatives in the camp, and they have been provided with ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, mosquito nets, and blankets. First building materials are expected to arrive on Monday.

Sadly, another fire was reported in Ban Mai Nai Soi camp in Mae Hong Son Province yesterday. One lady of 68 was killed, three people were injured, and 101 refugees were left homeless.

Many of the 130,000 refugees on the border have no choice but to light fires to keep themselves warm. TBC – the only agency responsible for providing food and shelter assistance to the refugees in the camps in Thailand – used to distribute blankets. Due to recent funding cuts on the border, however, they have been forced to cease the provision of all non-food items to refugees.

You can donate towards TBC’s relief operation here.

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