United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres Monday said the agency is urgently mobilizing all resources to get shelter, food and comfort to the Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal who were displaced due to fire.
Guterres said in a statement, "This is a disaster and an absolutely traumatic event for the refugees."
UNHCR said an estimated of 7,000 of the 9,000 refugees in Goldhap camp are now homeless. The displaced refugees are living under open sky in nearby jungle. Only 228 of the 1,512 traditional thatched huts in the camp survived the fire.
Thousands of refugees are homeless after a devastating fire swept through Goldhap refugee camp Saturday night, burning 80 percent of the camp to the ground and injuring seven refugees.
UNHCR said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Immediate emergency assistance from UNHCR, the Nepali government and non-governmental organizations are now pouring into the area to help the refugees. Local residents living near the camp have also been very supportive, providing emergency shelter and food.
Guterres praised the rapidity and level of response from the Nepali government and aid organizations in responding to the disaster.
The government and Nepali Red Cross will distribute emergency food packages and plastic sheeting and build emergency communal shelters.
Meanwhile, UNHCR will provide cash grants to refugees to help them reconstruct their homes.
Some 106,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 17 years.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article