Fate seems to have dealt yet another blow to the refugees living at the refugee camp in Goldhap of Jhapa, as 60 families living in the camp were rendered homeless in a fire that gutted their houses and belongings. Though fire brigades from Bhadrapur, Mechinagar and Damak were brought in to douse the fire, it was too late, as the fire had engulfed all that the refugees owned. With no shelter and nothing to eat, the refugees have been forced to spend their nights in the nearby jungle. By way of relief, the government has pledged an immediate assistance package of Rs 500, food grain, medicines, tarpaulins and cooking fuel, but whether these materials reach them in time will be a test of government’s concern for their plight.

Though various INGOs have promised to offer financial assistance and rehabilitate them at the earliest, the cause of the fire that destroyed the settlement also needs to be examined. The refugees lived in thatched huts that were very close to one another, which helped the fire to spread rapidly throughout the camp. Had the settlement been planned in a systematic way and more fire-resistant raw materials used, the fire might not have caused large-scale destruction. For instance, the houses should not have been allowed to be built too close to one another. However, as the damage which has been done is irrevocable, the government needs to do all it can to ensure that the refugees get speedy assistance and are rehabilitated soon.