(Mizzima) – Food, clothing and financial donations are needed at the Umpiem Mai Refugee Camp, following a massive fire on Thursday. An update on Friday said there have been no reports of deaths, according to the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC). One child was reported missing at the time of the update.
To donate money or material to the refugee camp, go to http://www.tbbc.org/donate/donate.htm
A report on their website said TBBC staff saw the first signs of the fire at about 12:15 p.m. in quarter No. 9.“Within five minutes the fire was raging with much smoke in Section 9 and it quickly spread to other houses,” the article said. The fire quickly spread to sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 (a Muslim community). There are 3,019 houses and about 4,410 people living in the five sections, the TBBC said.
About 2.30 p.m., Thai fire trucks arrived in the camp, “but by this time the fire was already under control,” the article said. The fire trucks were located about a 1-½ hour drive from the camp.
The TBBC said 566 homes were destroyed and 257 houses were partly destroyed to make a fire break to prevent the fire from spreading.
“Two nursery school buildings, one Muslim Women's Community building, two mosques (one in section 8 and one in section 9) and one security office in section 9 were burnt to the ground,” the article said.
About 20 people received minor injuries while trying to stop the fire.
The TBBC said it is distributing available food to the victims and collecting donations from area humanitarian groups, and more donations are urgently need. It delivered 500 blankets, 200 mats, 271 mosquito nets and168 cooking pots to the camp last night and will deliver another 1,900 blankets, 187 mats, 718 mosquito nets and 750 pots today.
On Thursday night those affected stayed in storage warehouses, mosques, nursery schools and in other people's homes inside the camp. Refugees are not allowed to leave the camp by the Thai government.
