50 homes destroyed in Mae La refugee camp fire
50 homes destroyed in Mae La refugee camp fire
Democratic Voice of Burma, 25 Mar 2014
URL: http://english.dvb.no/dvb-video/50-homes-destroyed-in-mae-la-refugee-camp-fire-burma-myanmar/38922
Nineteen huts were razed to the ground and 31 demolished to prevent a fire from spreading at a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border on Monday night, a camp official has confirmed to DVB.
According to Saw Tha Khe of the Mae La camp committee, no casualties have been reported.
“The fire broke out in Zone B at 9pm due to a candle,” he said.
Fire engines arrived 30 minutes later and the fire was under control around 10 pm, he said.
Nearly 300 people are now homeless and are taking shelter with relatives and friends in the camp, which is mainly made up of ethnic Karen refugees.
With thousands of wooden and bamboo huts situated in close proximity, Mae La is no stranger to fires. Blazes have caused fatalities and damage in April 2012 and December 2013.
Mae La refugee camp is the largest of the nine official refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border with nearly 40,000 residents.
According to Saw Tha Khe of the Mae La camp committee, no casualties have been reported.
“The fire broke out in Zone B at 9pm due to a candle,” he said.
Fire engines arrived 30 minutes later and the fire was under control around 10 pm, he said.
Nearly 300 people are now homeless and are taking shelter with relatives and friends in the camp, which is mainly made up of ethnic Karen refugees.
With thousands of wooden and bamboo huts situated in close proximity, Mae La is no stranger to fires. Blazes have caused fatalities and damage in April 2012 and December 2013.
Mae La refugee camp is the largest of the nine official refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border with nearly 40,000 residents.