More supplies needed for fire hit refugees: UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said there is an urgent need for relief supplies for the thousands of Bhutanese refugees who lost their homes and belongings in a fire on Saturday that destroyed almost 1,200 homes.
"We need US$580,000 to rebuild the camp and help the refugees. The most immediate needs are shelter, water and sanitation, blankets and mosquito nets. The cause of the fire is still being investigated but it believed to have been accidental," the UN refugee agency said.
The statement further said that much has been done in the last week with the help of the Nepali government, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the local communities.
Emergency shelters, water tanks and temporary toilets are being built and food rations for two weeks have been distributed to the displaced refugees. Both the government and UNHCR have been providing cash grants of up to US$32 per family to help refugees with their immediate needs.
The fire rendered 9,770 refugees homeless.
The refugees have been constructing temporary shelters, and the most vulnerable are living temporarily in a camp school which was not affected by the fire.
Local residents and associations have responded remarkably by collecting and delivering food, clothes, kitchen utensils and money for the refugees.
"Until Goldhap camp can be rebuilt with fire-prevention measures in place, UNHCR is exploring the possibility of relocating some families to some of the six other refugee camps in eastern Nepal to avoid overcrowding. The local authorities are also considering allocating additional space for reconstruction," UNHCR said. nepalnews.com ia Mar 07 08
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