Government assists fire victims

Government assists fire victims

Mpulungu, June 15, ZANIS —— Government has sent foods stuffs and other assorted items to assist the victims of the fire accidents in Mpulungu’s Myamba and Kasakamulwa villages.

On Monday night, fire swept through the two villages igniting over 20 houses in which household goods worth thousands of kwacha were lost.

On Friday, Mpulungu District Commissioner Juliana Chuzu led a team of officers from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to the two villages where the items were delivered to the affected families.

Among the items that government had procured included bags of mealie-meal, tents, exercise books, sugar, cooking oil and blankets.

Speaking when she handed over the items to the affected families Ms Chuzu said government had responded quickly to help the suffering families because it understood their plight.

Ms Chuzu advised the fire victims not to lose focus but to soldier on despite the accident.

“Do not lose hope as bad things happen to everybody in this life…..pick up from whatever little things you have and reassemble your houses,’’ Ms Chuzu told the residents.

And receiving the items on behalf of the residents, Chilumba PF Ward Councillor Christopher Mbao thanked the government for the quick response, saying the gesture was a sign that government cared for its citizens.

Mr Mbao said the donated items would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the affected families.

Meanwhile three other villages along the shores of Lake Tanganyika have recorded cases of suspected scabies which was mostly affecting children.

Apart from Myamba village, cases of scabies have also been reported in Kasakamulwa and Chipwa villages.

The residents in the three villages have appealed to health personnel to immediately investigate the matter to establish what was causing the suspected scabies.

During a visit in Myamba and Kasakamulwa villages yesterday, most children were seen with spots all over their bodies which they were constantly scratching.

Their parents complained that they did not know what to do because the spots keep on recurring despite the children being taken for injections at the local clinic.

Meanwhile, the fishermen who went missing on Lake Tanganyika when their fishing vessel encountered rough waters have been found.

The fishermen went missing on Monday night near Kapembwa area after the boat they were using broke into two pieces after encountering strong winds.

The fishermen were located at a village on the shores of Lake Tanganyika where they had managed to swim to safety.

Fortunately, no deaths were recorded.