Fears Grow for Refugees as Another Blaze Destroys Homes in Umpiem Mai

Burma Link, February 4, 2014

Eleven homes were burned in a fire yesterday in Umpiem Mai refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. A further 50 houses were partially dismantled to create a fire-break.

The fire started in Section 5, sparked by children playing with matches inside their house. While no one was injured, the situation was terrifying for those caught up in the smoke.

“I was scared. I couldn’t see anything. We ran away from the house. Because of smoke we couldn’t see anything”, a 19-year-old dorm student told Burma Link.

“I felt safer when I saw other people outside. People told us not to go anywhere… The wind was blowing towards the hill. We thought maybe we’re safe because the wind was blowing the other way”, she continued.

Umpiem Mai is 1.5 hours away from the Thai border town of Mae Sot and home to an estimated 13,000 refugees. The camp residents are no strangers to fire; In February 2012, a huge fire in Umpiem Mai destroyed over 1,000 homes.

Fire is a constant fear for the refugees who fear that their homes are fire traps. In April 2013, 39 refugees died in a fire that destroyed Ban Mae Surin refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province. In December 2013, a fire in Mae La camp destroyed over 100 houses and injured three refugees.