Fire victimizes 441 in Beldangi-I, BNS appeals for support (UPDATE)

Damak/Kathmandu, November 10: Emergency Relief Coordination Committee formed under the leadership of the camp secretary of Beldangi-I camp TB Gurung has appealed authorities concerned to extend support for fire victims in Beldangi-I camp.

Meanwhile, Bhutan News Service (BNS) and Helping Hands Bhutan have extended the first relief aid early in the morning today to fire victims.

The fire that broke out in Beldangi-I sector 'A' destroyed 68 huts victimizing 441 individuals. Harka Bahadur Rai, assistant supervisor in Refugee Coordination Unit Beldangi-I has reported Bhutan News Service (BNS) that 64 huts were completely burnt and four demolished while putting off the fire. In a release issued by Rai, he has urged the concerned parties to work for immediate relief assistance to the victims.

“I make a request to provide immediately food and non- food items along with the hut construction materials” the release stated.

Bhutan News Service and Helping Hand Bhutan distributed food items as preliminary assistance in coordination with newly formed Relief Management Committee. Lions Club Damak, Maket Management Committee and Damak Chambers of Commerce also distributed relief assistance to the victims. UNHCR’s protection officer at Damak, field director of Caritas Nepal Verkey, LWF’s staffs and other officials of aid-agencies also inspected the situation.

Issuing a press statement today, Helping Hands Bhutan has also urged the concerned authorities to manage necessary relief aid to fire victims in the camp at the earliest.

"We also demand the concerned authorities to manage all necessary prerequisites including the fire brigadier near the camps so as to prevent from such incidents in the near future", reads the statement. It has also urged people in camps to keep patience at this  hour.  

Now the fire victims are kept at Green Vale Academy in the same camp. In the meantime, Bhutan News Service has appealed Bhutanese citizens living in Kathmandu and abroad to contribute to support victims. “We request Bhutanese citizens living in Kathmandu and abroad in different countries to extend their helping hand in contributing to victims of fire”, reads a joint release issued by Vidhyapati Mishra and Puranaghare. Bhutan News Service