3000 homeless after fire breaks out in Chad refugee camp

April 13, 2008 

The fire started in the Goz Amer camp triggered by a cooking fire that had gone unwatched. The fire moved quickly through the camp due to high winds. Many of the refugees lost all of their belongings and food rations in the blaze. After receiving tents from the UNHCR in 2004, many of the refugees built traditional dwellings out of sticks and mud, and these shelters burned rapidly in the fire. 
In a UNHCR press release, Emmanuel Uwurukundo, acting UNHCR head in Koukou-Angarana said: "Everybody around, refugees and all our partners alike, rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire with whatever they had: clothes, extinguishers and water. The teamwork was outstanding." 
In Geneva the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres commented on the situation: "The refugees have already suffered so much tragedy and now face yet another trauma. I am deeply relieved that there was no loss of life in this devastating fire. We will do everything we can to help and to get shelter and food supplies to them as quickly as possible."
3000 homeless after fire breaks out in Chad refugee camp April 13 , 2008 The fire started in the Goz Amer camp triggered by a cooking fire that had gone unwatched . The fire moved quickly through the camp due to high winds . Many of the refugees lost all of their belongings and food rations in the blaze . After receiving tents from the UNHCR in 2004 , many of the refugees built traditional dwellings out of sticks and mud , and these shelters burned rapidly in the fire . In a UNHCR press release , Emmanuel Uwurukundo , acting UNHCR head in Koukou - Angarana said : " Everybody around , refugees and all our partners alike , rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire with whatever they had : clothes , extinguishers and water . The teamwork was outstanding . " In Geneva the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres commented on the situation : " The refugees have already suffered so much tragedy and now face yet another trauma . I am deeply relieved that there was no loss of life in this devastating fire . We will do everything we can to help and to get shelter and food supplies to them as quickly as possible . "
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