Children seek aid

Three children aged 15,16 and 17 who lived with their mother and 22-month-old little brother in the guesthouse along the Anton de Komstraat which recently went up in flames are seeking aid. The place they used to call home was consumed by a fire on Friday which is why they currently do not have any school uniforms, books, exercise books and shoes. The father of these 3 children, Chandrikapersad Sewpal, told Times of Suriname that his 3 children attend classes at secondary school junior level (Mulo) and that the school will start this week but that they do no longer have any school sup- plies. Sewpal hopes that the government and the nation will lend a helping hand so that the kids can pick up their lives again. “It is difficult to build everything again for my wife and kids,” said the man who reportedly lived separately. The woman and her children moved in with him after the fire. Reports indicate that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing has given food products to the family. Sewpal pointed out that his wife and the children were home when smoke came out of the building. One of the children called him to inform him of what was happening. He told his daughter that she and the others needed to get out of the house. The woman and her children could not save anything. All of their clothes, food and money went up in flames. Sewpal explained that his wife owned the 3 buildings that were on the property and which burnt down. There were tenants in all of the three buildings. “They have nothing left. The children get nightmares about the fire. They are very scared.” Reports indicate that 34 people were left homeless after the fire. A senior citizen who lived upstairs in the guesthouse suffered a broken leg when he jumped out of the burning building.