Attachments
Operation Start Date: 10-01-2023
Operational End Date: 30-04-2023
Description of the Event
Date of event 2022-12-25
What happened, where and when?
On 25 December 2022, a significant fire incident occurred in the England Ville Funkia, Goderich community in the Western Rural District. The incident originated around 12:30 pm when a lady was preparing her Christmas meal in a makeshift house. Despite the efforts of household members, the fire could not be extinguished, and the National Fire Force was unable to arrive on time due to a fatal accident involving the fire truck en route to the scene.
However, the entire community came together to combat the fire, successfully extinguishing it. Unfortunately, numerous houses had already been completely burnt, resulting in the displacement of many households in the Funkia community. A total of 211 households lost their homes and essential belongings. The displaced individuals had nowhere to stay, and the neighborhood was unable to accommodate the large number of displaced people. Consequently, a significant amount of the affected population had to sleep in the open. At the same time, some sought refuge in nearby public buildings such as markets and schools, and others resorted to staying on the unsafe beaches in and around Goodrich Village.
On 29 December 2022, the National Disaster Management Agency, specifically its directorate of Relief and Response, organized a joint Multi-Sectorial Assessment. According to the assessment report, a total of 938 individuals from 211 households were affected by the incident, losing their homes and properties. The Funkia community suffered the full impact of the incident, with 16 reported injury cases, some of whom were referred to the hospital without the means to pay their medical bills.
Among the displaced population were 322 children, 30 lactating women, and 9 pregnant women. Notably, 158 affected children were school-going toddlers who lost their school items. Additionally, the incident destroyed five stores, 46 shops, and 136 wooden stalls.
This incident severely impacted the community, which was already facing significant economic challenges and rising prices. The loss of their income-generating assets has further exacerbated their difficulties, making it even more challenging for them to regain stability and rebuild their lives.
Scope and Scale
The incident had a profound impact on the Funkia community. As per the assessment report, a staggering number of 938 individuals residing in 211 households were left homeless and lost their belongings. Notably, the most severely affected were:
- Sixteen (16) individuals sustained injuries with some referred to the hospital with no income to pay their bills.
- All the affected communities were homeless with vulnerable groups exposed to deteriorated living conditions. Thus, in a risk of facing diseases and other aléas. Some 322 children, 30 lactating women, and 9 pregnant women were part of the homeless people identified during the assessment.
The fire destroyed all their settlements, belongings, shops, utilities, etc. A total of 158 children, mainly toddlers among the 322 affected children were pupils and had lost their school items.
- This incident severely affected the life balance of the community, already living with significant economic difficulties, exposed to rising prices and. All the small income routines and all income-generating activities were blown away by the fire. Five stores, 46 shops, and 136 wooden stalls were destroyed.
- Immediate access to families' basic needs of water and food was urgent; water sources were damaged from the debris of burnt houses and stores, hence increasing risks of water-borne diseases, and sanitation issues.
- Funkia, a fishing community, is predominantly inhabited by fishermen and individuals engaged in fish-related trades for their sustenance. The devastating fire not only ravaged the infrastructure and installations but also destroyed the fishing nets that were crucial for their livelihoods. Consequently, the already impoverished population suffered a complete loss of their essential resources, means of living, and personal possessions.
- The incident also had an impact on the host communities and the surrounding areas that depend on the fishing market. Both the affected families and the hosts were dependent on alternative markets, which brings additional challenges to a population already stretched to its limits by accommodating some of the displaced families.