More on help for fire vicitms
‘I got married a year ago and was trying to build a life with my partner. We had a lot of items on hire purchase and lost everything in the fire’
Donations from Government and private donors brought immediate relief to the victims of the Nabua informal settlement fire. Sandeep Kumar, 30, whose house burned down in a matter of minutes after the fire spread from the first structure, said he would have to rebuild everything.
He said: “Thank you everyone for bringing a bit of happiness again to our lives.
“At least now we have things to wear and blankets to keep ourselves warm at night.
“I only managed to save the clothes on my back.
“I got married a year ago and was trying to build a life with my partner. We had a lot of items on hire purchase and lost everything in the fire.
“I’m still trying to figure out how I’ll pay for it but the donations have helped us quite a bit.”
Mr Kumar also expressed relief when he was informed by
Government that his burnt e-Ticketing card would be replaced by
Vodafone Fiji.
“I can’t travel because I don’t have the cash to afford a taxi.
In that way, these new cards will help us so much,” he added.
Private donors were also seen arriving at the settlement with basic items for the affected families.
Tevita Vodo, 47, a resident and victim of the mid-afternoon blaze, said he could finally attend work after receiving the card.
“I was numb yesterday,” Mr Vodo said. “Everything is gone. I’ve got five children and they were all so frightened until we spoke to them.
“It (what we’re going through) might look slightly easy from the outside but I can tell you, it’s been very tough. “I had so many items in the house. My fridge, television set and so many other things are all gone. It’s such a big loss.
“We will now try to look ahead with whatever help we get and rebuild our lives from scratch.”
Mr Vodo estimated a loss of $50,000 worth of items. “My family is trying to get strength from God and support each other through these hard times.”
Mr Vodo was gracious in his thanks to Government, who he said had helped the families greatly with the immediate donation.
Witnesses and residents at the settlement blamed the devastating spread of the fire on the congested manner in which houses were built.
However, some of the residents in the settlement are so poor, among them bus checkers and city council labourers, that it’s the best they can afford.
As the Diwali smoke clears at the occasion’s conclusion, these families will try to pick up the pieces and find direction once again.
Thank you everyone for bringing a bit of happiness again to our lives. At least now we have things to wear and blankets to keep ourselves warm at night. I only managed to save the clothes on my back. Sandeep Kumar Fire victim