Mysterious Fire Engulfs Rann IDPs Camp in Borno

By Ahmed Abu, The Nigerian Voice, Maiduguri

A fire outbreak has consumed the internally displaced persons, IDPs, camp in Rann, Kala Balge local government area of Borno State, killing nine people and injuring many others in the camp.

A survivor, Malam Bukar kallah told The Nigerian Voice that the IDPs camp has been left for long without anything after the United Nations withdrew its staff and support from the camp after the boko Haram incident that killed some of their staff.

“Our people have been dying of hunger and starvation since the UN left. There is nothing to eat as the little that is available from government and well-meaning Nigerians is not even enough for the women and children.

“There is also no medical care and people are now open to so many diseases due to hunger and starvation in the camp. Also lack of water has been a problem, which the people have been battling with.

“Today, at about 12 noon, there was a fire outbreak. Some people who were down due to hunger and its related sickness were choked. There was no water to fight the fire, thereby living no help for those who were trapped in the fire.

“We lost nine people with several others injured as a result of the fire incident this afternoon. We are calling for help for these people because they are really suffering for now,” Bukar said.