150 IDP families rendered homeless in fire in Vavuniyaa refugee camp

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 July 2008, 09:57 GMT]
Around 150 internally displaced families have been rendered homeless and being provided shelter in a school due to a fire that broke out Thursday morning located in the Poonthoaddam refugee camp No. 08 in Vavuniyaa town. Seven huts in the camp were reduced to ash, according to Government Agent C.Shanmugam.

The fire broke out around 8:30 a.m. Fire brigades of the Sri Lanka Army, Police and Sri Lanka Navy in the area rushed to the site and helped to extinguish the fire from spreading to other structures.

The Government Agent said his staff also rushed to the scene to provide assistance to the affected IDPs sheltered in Poonthoaddam camp. It had been suspected the fire was due to electricity leak or from the kitchen, sources said.

Mr. Shanmugam added that he has taken steps to provide clothes, food and other assistance to those affected.

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