EFRAH calls for support to help community affected by slum fire

EFRAH calls for support to help community affected by slum fire

Sharelines

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

 


Others

Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.

Read More

Related Stories

Women Livelihood

01 Sep, 2022

Nalanda, Bihar

Storeowner And Businesswoman: Mamta Devi

At the entry point of Mohiuddinpur Village – one can find proud storeowner and spirited entrepreneur Mamta Devi.

Read More

Women Livelihood

22 Aug, 2022

Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh

Advocacy Win: One Job Card At A Time

Oxfam India is engaging with communities, in its intervention villages, at different levels.  One of the most important strategy is the formation of the women group in the community so they can rai

Read More

Women Livelihood

17 Aug, 2022

Koraput, Odisha

Bhanumati Pungari Turns Her Life Around

Bhanumati Pungari was considered 'unlucky' as she was born with disability and the society isn’t very kind towards Persons with Disability.

Read More

Education

09 Aug, 2022

Gumla, Jharkhand

Suraj Goes To School

We work with mother's group in Jharkhand along with children and schools and this is how we came across Suraj Lohra. Ten-year-old Suraj Lohra was an out of school child.

Read More