Migrants fear loved ones lost in refugee camp fire

Mount Gambier’s Karenni community is waiting anxiously for the results of DNA tests on the charred bodies of family members and friends who perished in a fire in a Thailand refugee camp.

At least 38 people were killed, 100 injured and 2000 were left without shelter when a fire broke out two weeks ago in Camp 2, where many of Mount Gambier’s Karenni refugees lived before migrating to freedom in Australia.

Khun Dee, who arrived in the Blue Lake city with his wife in 2006, is relieved to know his mother had survived, but fears he has lost friends in the blaze.

“I have spoken to my mother on the phone, so I know she is alive, but she has lost all her possessions in the fire,” he said.

“We have already applied for a visa to bring her to us in Mount Gambier, but we don’t know if the process is going to be delayed by the fire.

“I hope she can come to live here with us.”

Khun Dee lived in the camp with his family since the age of four and although most of his direct family members are now scattered around the world, he had left behind many friends he made in the 20 years he spent in the camp hiding from the cruelty of Burmese soldiers.

“There are about 3000 people in the camp and you know every one because you are not allowed to leave the camp, so we will know people that had died,” he said.

“They sent us photos, but we can’t identify the victims because they had been burnt beyond recognition.

“We will just have to wait for the results of DNA tests.”

Authorities believe the fire could have been sparked by an unattended cooking flame, but the cause has not yet been determined as investigations by the Thai police continue.

Khun Dee has made a heartfelt plea to the South East community to make a financial donation to the survivors in Camp 2.

“People in the camp are not treated like human beings and have very little possessions and now they have lost the few things they have, like food, cooking equipment and clothes,” he said.

“They also have no shelter now, which is just a roof without any walls, and it gets very cold there at night and very hot during the day.”

Khun Dee’s plea is part of an Australia-wide appeal through the Karenni Federation of Australia to raise money, which will be paid directly to the camp leader, a Karenni person who heads the camp committee and has the power to purchase the necessary items.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

http://www.borderwatch.com.au/story/1402063/migrants-fear-loved-ones-lost-in-refugee-camp-fire/?cs=1266