Political and Security

South-central:
Mogadishu has experienced a number of security incidents in recent days.

On 2 May, the Representative met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and National Security to present UNHCR's concept of a Durable Solution Platform for IDPs. Further discussion and follow up is scheduled for the coming weeks.

1. Progress to Date

Food Supplies

The food situation is back to normal. Due to the loss of warehouses in the fire, stockpiling of all basic food commodities (which would normally take place once before the rainy season and cover six months of supplies for the entire camp) will be carried out in stages. The first deliveries will begin next week.

Temporary Shelter

Summary: On 6 January, a fire broke out in the village of Alloya, resulting in in the destruction of hundreds of houses and displacing almost 3,000 people, leaving the affected families in a very vulnerable situation without any shelter.

The Baptist World Alliance® (BWA) sent an initial sum of US$20,000 to assist Karenni refugees whose homes were badly damaged or destroyed in a fire in a refugee camp in Thailand, killing 37 persons.

The Karenni are a subgroup of the Karen people living mostly in Kayah State (formerly Karenni State) of Myanmar. Many of the refugees fled conflict zones in Kayah and Karen states.

By Shamima Akhter, Gender Specialist, ADPC

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Fire hazards are a common phenomenon in city life. In Dhaka, approximately 8 million people crowd the streets, creating a human sea difficult to navigate. Coping with fire hazards in Dhaka dramatically differs from other mega-cities, as one blaze may destruct the path of vulnerable low-income areas within minutes.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

EMERGENCY APPEAL:
THAI-BURMA BORDER REFUGEE CAMP FIRE

APPEAL # 700-F
APPEAL GOAL: $40,000

APRIL 4, 2013

SITUATION: Thirty-six people died in a fire that broke out March 22 in the Ban Mae Surin refugee camp, in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand.

The fire swept through two sections of the camp destroying nearly everything; the fire was caused by a cooking accident.

KHARTOUM (28 Mar.) - A large fire broke out at the Khartoum University leaving several students with burn injuries, including one in coma. The Darfur Student Association has accused militias of setting the dormitories ablaze as they are mostly resided by people from Darfur or from the Nuba Mountains.

The flames at the Zahra compound began on Tuesday while students were in class, the association said. Possessions of several undergraduates were destroyed, “especially those of Darfurians”.

BANGKOK, Thailand, March 26 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that the death toll from a fire that swept through a refugee camp on Thailand's border with Myanmar has risen to 37, while 2,300 refugees have been left homeless.

The fire broke out in Ban Mae Surin camp in Mae Hong Son province on Friday afternoon. It spread quickly to destroy more than 400 homes, a school, clinic, warehouse, community facilities as well as government and aid agency offices. Refugees with serious burns have been taken to local hospitals.

BANGKOK, 26 March 2013 (NNT) - His Majesty the King yesterday designated the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under the Royal Patronage to send a mobile relief unit to help fire victims at the refugee camp in Khun Yuam district, in the northern province of Mae Hong Son.

Mr. Wilas Rujiwatthanapong, chairman of the Foundation's Relief Unit led his officials in distributing royal relief packages to 500 families affected by the fire disaster.