UNDRO 88/0625

BURMA - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO. 1
24 MARCH 1988

1. THE NORTHEASTERN TOWN OF LASHO, SHAN STATE, 1,200 KILOMETRES FROM RANGOON, WAS DEVASTATED BY FIRES ON 20 MARCH. FIRST REPORTS INDICATE FIRE HAS DESTROYED 2,096 HOUSES, TWO PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND KILLED 113 PERSONS. OVER 20,000 PERSONS RENDERED HOMELESS EQUIVALENT TO 20 PER CENT OF POPULATION.

2. FIRE VICTIMS TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN MONASTERIES AND SCHOOLS. ALTHOUGH FIRES NOW UNDER CONTROL, RELIEF MEASURES CONTINUING BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE.