EFRAH calls for support to help community affected by slum fire

EFRAH calls for support to help community affected by slum fire

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Our partner EFRAH is helping the community affected by fire in Delhi slums. Know more http://bit.ly/1FgTKbx

A major fire that gutted 500 slums in Madanpur Khadar area in Delhi has left thousands homeless and without any property.

Around 3000 people have been affected by the incident -- 2000 children and 1000 men & women.

Sayeed Ahmed, secretary of Empowerment for Rehabilitation Academic and Health (EFRAH) --  which is a partner of Oxfam India and works for the children of rag pickers, domestic workers, construction workers, street vendors who live in these slums – says that this is the time to help the community.

Below are the excerpts from the interview:

Q: What is the situation on the ground?

A: The situation is very bad.  All the homes of the community, with which we worked, have been burned. All the belongings have been turned to ash. The only they have left are the clothes they are wearing. We are trying to help the community by providing them shelter, but it is not enough.  We need more support.

Q: Children have lost their books and uniforms. What can be done at this point?

A: What is most important at the moment is the survival of the community. Locals have come to us asking for help. They know EFRAH works in the region. Children are missing their books and uniform, but the priority for families is having a home, clothes, food and water. If we don’t help them now, they will be very sceptical to send children back to school or EFRAH’s programme.

Q: What does EFRAH need to help the members of community?

A: We need a lot of help from Oxfam India. There are 120 families, which are the worst affected. They have lost everything. EFRAH does not have the capacity to help all of them. 

 

Written by: Sahil Sharma

Photo credit: Maju Varghese

 


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