UN staff to aid survivors after refugee-camp fire
Those who escaped inferno - including many children - left traumatised, aid groups say; victim identification ongoing
The UN refugee agency will dispatch social workers to assist refugees affected by a fire that claimed at least 36 lives and destroyed hundreds of dwellings at a camp in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district on Friday.
The inferno has left many survivors scarred, especially children and the elderly. More than 100 refugees were injured in the incident. Four of the injured refugees are in critical condition.
The UNHCR will seek support from the government to station Thai social workers at the camp, which shelters about 3,700 refugees, most of whom are Christians.
Htoowea Lweh, a member of the Karenni Refugee Committee, said most of the elderly refugees and children had been left traumatised. Her team needs to talk with them and help them to recover, she said.
“We have found that most of the children are shaken. They do not leave their parents’ sides. And they are still frightened after the devastating fire,” she said. About 520 children aged less than 5 live in the camp.
Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said yesterday that the bodies of most of the dead were found near the cliffs or in the hills near the camp. “We will draw up a proper plan to prevent such an incident from recurring,” he said.
The process of identifying the victims has already begun. A total of 23 bodies had been identified as of press time.
Police and doctors expected to identify 13 more very soon. “But if DNA tests are needed, officials may need more time. The results will be available within seven days in that case,” Charupong said.
Police Bureau Region 5 deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Chamnan Ruadrew said the number of people killed in the fire was confirmed at 36. According to the latest report from the Mae Hong Son Public Health Office, however, 36 refugees were killed and one was still missing.
The Public Health Ministry has dispatched communicable disease control officials, sanitation officers, psychologists, psychiatrists, medical units, food and water to assist the refugees. More than 500 mosquito nets treated with pyrethroid have been distributed to the refugees to prevent them from contracting malaria.
Health Minister Dr Pradit Sinthawanarong said officials dispatched to the camp will monitor the situation to prevent the spread of communicable diseases borne by insects such as mosquitoes.
Psychiatrists and psychologists from Khun Yuam Hospital, Sri Sangwan Hospital and Thanyarak Hospital in Mae Hong Son and a team of interpreters will be working to screen refugees and rehabilitate those who are in need of help.
A team of medical personnel from Khun Yuam Hospital will also provide treatment for the victims.
Of the injured, two were being treated at Maharat Hospital in Chiang Mai and seven at Mae Hong Son Hospital.
A centre to accept public donations has been established in Mae Hong Son provincial hall and at every district hall in the province. Donations are being accepted via Krung Thai Bank’s Mae Hong Son branch, account number 508-0-256-109.
Mae Hong Son Governor Naruemol Palwat said the province is assisting the refugees by providing food, distributing 800 tents with support from the UNHCR, facilitating medical assistance provided by the International Red Cross and medical teams from Mae Hong Son province.
Armed Forces Development commissioner General Sommai Kaodira said his unit has sent mobile kitchens and water trucks to help the affected refugees.
The disaster, which has left more than 2,300 refugees homeless, is believed to have started when a cooking fire got out of control.
