IRC Provides Emergency Aid to Fire Victims at Refugee Camp in Nepal

The International Rescue Committee joined with other aid and government agencies to provide emergency aid to some 7,000 Bhutanese refugees who were left without homes, clothing and food after an accidental fire roared through their camp in eastern Nepal on March 1.

The camp is one of seven that have been housing some 107,000 Bhutanese refugees for the past 17 years.  The refugees are Bhutanese of Nepalese origin who were expelled from Bhutan after the government stripped them of citizenship due to their ancestry.

Over 1,500 of 1,700 refugee homes were destroyed along with a school for refugees, according to the UN.

So far, the IRC has distributed hygiene kits, sanitary pads, men’s pants and T-shirts and women’s clothing in the area where the fire took place, said Roman Bhattrai, the IRC logistics officer in Nepal.

The IRC plans to continue relief efforts after assessing the need.