30 killed in Mae Hong Son refugee camp blaze

Lots of Respect to all of you ... for all that you've done, and for all that you will do .... Geoff
 
Home Base!

Photos may take a while to appear, but they are here.

We departed from Hang Dong road 8am yesterday in two overloaded utes.
Five and a half hours later we were at the District Office warehouse in Khun Yuam.

A team of about 30 volunteers and Council staff were there, highly organised, ready to unpack vehicles as they arrived.

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A couple of large trucks were being loaded at the warehouse to drive the 37 kms out to the disaster site at Ban Mae Surin.
One departed as were were there.

Wonderful, friendly people there.
I was told that what the RideAsia people ("gang") brought was "just right".
They especially appreciated the water-melons, the scented powder and the children's toys.

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The water-melon crew.

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Here's what was in the warehouse yesterday.
It appears to be enough for a very long time, however with about 2000 victims at the refugee camp, it was estimated that the
current consumables here will last "about 10 days". The supplies need to continue arriving.

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A lot to be sorted, some from international origins.
The worry is that, now the publicity has moved on to other issues, donations will dwindle.

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When I asked what is particularly needed now at the camp the reply was "toys and games for children".
(One could imagine the trauma that the children went through and the emotional scars left behind.
I suspect there is already and will continue to be many serious emotional issues for the folk out there; toys should at least distract the kids from the trauma
for a while).

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Maybe, seeing we still have funds in the kitty and more money still coming in, we can do a ride/drive with a few hundred toys, games, books for the children?
A bit later perhaps.

Ally, you are wonderful and we all appreciate your help.
I know you cancelled your planned activity for yesterday so you could help with delivering the goods.

We sure delivered the goods folks!
Thanks to all who participated.

Any criticisms from anywhere: "put up or shut up".

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My only criticism would be of myself for just handing over some Money. 'Beer Money' really, instead of getting of my arse and riding up with you and going round the shops in the heat of the day. Its nice to know we got it right though ;)
 
We still have a bunch of donation money left, JB just pledged some funds additionally, so we can do another round easily.
 
2wheels, Ally,

Great work and well excecuted.
Nice to know that some funds are still left over and additionals are still coming in.

According to the Border Consortium website about 50% of all the people in the camp are 17 years or younger!
It is indeed a good idea to direct our attention to their urgent- and longer term needs and emotions.
 
Thank you 'Brake'; good suggestion.

This is heart breaking ...

" We know that no other members of Chaa Nay Choo's family were injured in the fire, but they have been prevented from leaving the Mae Surin Camp
to visit him in Chiang Mai because they do not have the required travel documents. "
 
Here is an update on Chaa Nay Choo's situation:
Last night I have contacted a potential benefactor in the USA and this morning I could contact the staff of The Best Friend organisation in Chiang Mai with good news.
A donation of US $ 5.000 was commited by this source who wants to remain anonymous, for medication and advanced medical treatment of Chaa Nay Choo.
We will co-ordinate the transfer of the donation the next few days, possibly next Friday 5th at the hospital.
 
Excellent work 'Brake'.
This lad's treatment is going to consume many dollars.

Wouldn't it be beneficial to his recovery if the Thai authorities could be flexible with their regulations and allow his parents to visit him, escorted of course?
Maybe the Hospital can be an influence here?
 
The IRC is discussing with Thai Authorities to allow 1 family member to stay with the victims currently in hospital.
Chaa Nay Choo is currently on such a level of morphine that he slips in and out of "sleep", it is not clear how much he is aware when he is awake.
 
Payment of 150.000 baht was released to Suan Dok Hospital Foundation today with specific instructions on it's use only for the medical treatment of Chaa Nay Choo.
 
Thanks for keeping us updated here Marcel, that is really good news indeed.

Ally
 
Colin, he will never recover in the same manner as children of his own age and origin grow up.
If he survives, he will be scared for the rest of his life, being a walking heritage of what went wrong.
I hope he does and he becomes a walking testimony of all the bad things that happened to the displaced people in Myanmar and abroad.
 
Wonderful news; and 'well done' Marcel.

Has the lad been visited by his family yet?

Just now back from a 12 hour round trip to deliver more goodies to the victims.
Knackered, so will report tomorrow.
 
Welcome home safely 2 wheels.
Look foward to the report and the pics.....

Family visit is getting closer, we hope that during the weekend his older brother can visit.
 
"Hope he survives" is what was written on 2 websites, both sites unnamed but for the sake of equality I will use this text identical on both of them.

Here is my take on this, it is my personal take only and does not reflect the opinion of the company that actually did the 150.000 baht donation for Chaa Nay Choo.

The only way I feel people can make difference is when they act themselves, with the direction that comes straight out of their hearth. This is what the Buddhist's consider to be META, loving kindness!

If I have to be concerned with the question if Chaa Nay Choo will survive or not has nothing to do with META, this is an EGO question, I really do not consider that a valid nor interesting position at the moment.

He is alive NOW, we help him NOW!
 
+1 on your comment Marcel regarding nong Chaa Naay Choo.

Glad to hear your back Ron.

Ally
 
Been away for work, just got back the other night and wasn't aware of any of this until reading this thread now.
I'm very impressed with all your effort in this, you are all very good hearted people.
 
Our third load of goodies for the Ban Mae Surin fire victims was delivered to the Khun Yuam Municipality warehouse yesterday.

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We are in their books as "RideAsia Motorcycle Club"!
Our load was greatly appreciated.
It included fresh fruit and vegetables, clothing, toiletries, hats, flip-flops, activity books, toys and games for children, UHT milk, fruit juice.

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Here's what the warehouse looked like last time Ally and I were there, (one week earlier) ...

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... and yesterday.

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Only government supplied rice and water remained in this warehouse and all other items were stored at the Refugee Camp.

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I didn't need it but was shown a graphic presentation from the camp.

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Still many fires in the area.

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For this second round of donations a big 'thank you' to

JB
Anonymous D
Eric
Tim Gnasher
GSforLife (Malaysia)
Marcusb
Paul Mud
Justin
David L

Khun Opal, Khun Oi and young Jan did the shopping on Thursday; thank you ladies.
Phil G has, from the first minutes of this exercise, done a tremendous job in the background raising funds.

And we still have some money remaining!

Thank you one and all.

Oh, incidentally, I drove back via Mae Chaem and onto the Doi Inthanon road and it is badly pot-holed and damaged; wouldn't recommend this route for riders.
 
Great job Ron, good see the Ride Asia riding community has big hearts, just wondering if the government has supplied them with tents and the like with the rainy season round the corner ?
 
just wondering if the government has supplied them with tents and the like with the rainy season round the corner ?
Click to expand...

No idea Bob, hope so.

I note it's gone very quiet re the cause of the fire too.
First reports were 'cooking fire' accident.
Then we read that witnesses saw sparks overhead from nearby fires.
Then we read that witnesses claim to see an incendiary thrown from a helicopter.
Hmmmm.

Anyway, we've done our bit.
 
Firstly - 2wheels, your campaign and execution thereof here is commendable, marvelous job, superb choices, you could not have done a better job. It's great to see a week later that all the donations have made it out of the Khun Yuam warehouse to the people in need.


With the money we have left and future donations, I think we should do another run? What do you think?


Did you get any idea of what was still urgently needed talking to the relief workers? Did they give any estimates as to how long current food donations would last?
 
I think we should do another run?
Click to expand...

We could.

I asked about needs (to the best of my ability, there being no English speakers there yesterday, and it was suggested
that fruit was a very good idea.

I don't know how long current supplies (now at the camp) will last Phil and I don't know how much is flowing in direct to the camp
so I can't estimate about duration of current supplies.
 
This is a bald thought (coming from a guy almost 100% grey haired), why not co-ordinate a possible future drive/donation with guys that are actually in the camp and have first hand knowledge of what is needed? In the first week of a disaster volunteers work before NGO's even are able to formalise their first emergency meeting and allocate staff and funds.
Now is the time to see that these NGO's really do a good job and my suggestion is to allow and support their work.

I suggest the Free Burma Rangers, if those guys had enough cash they would be bikers.....
 
As you wrote that Marcel I was endeavouring to contact Khun Mong of 'Child's Dream Foundation' to put Phil's questions to her.
She is at or has been to the camp site.

We, as private citizens and 'Farang' are surely not permitted to enter the camp?
So maybe connecting with the Rangers is a good idea.
 
From the current edition of Chiang Mai Mail.

" Donations for the fire in Mae Hong Son
Dear Editor:
I live near a market here in Chiang Mai, it's called "Thanin" Market, while shopping there the other day there was a loud announcement over the public speakers they have there. It was regarding the fire that killed fourty five people who were living in a makeshift camp in Mae Hong Song. They were mainly Karen people who had escaped some time ago from the regime in Burma.
I had to ask a friend what the announcement was about, I was told the market were asking stall holders and shoppers if they could donate items needed badly by the people at the camp. They gave a list of urgent items that were required and said they would be taken to the camp on Sunday the 31st of March. I got involved as I think everybody who heard the request did, and I thought what a nice gesture by the market it was. There was an empty shop where you could take your gifts too and it was packed with donations.
Amazing Thailand, well that's the poorer Thais for you, as any Farang knows who has lived here any length of time they are "Simply The Best". I would like to thank "Mam", the young lady who translated the message for me, if not for her I would be none the wiser as they say!
Happy Songkran to you everyone involved with "The Mail"
Yours, Lung Del "
​
 
2wheels said:
I note it's gone very quiet re the cause of the fire too.
First reports were 'cooking fire' accident.
Then we read that witnesses saw sparks overhead from nearby fires.
Then we read that witnesses claim to see an incendiary thrown from a helicopter.
Click to expand...

Interesting article in the Bangkok Post of today with regard to the cause of the fire - some parts have been published before but other parts were new at least to me:

Doubts raised over cause of refugee camp fire | Bangkok Post: news
 
Yes very interesting article, but as it suggested site preparations for building the new village will conveniently bury any evidence that could point to the real cause of the fire. In the meantime all we can do is keep trying to help the poor people left homeless by this tragic event.
 
And RideAsia gets a mention in the current Chiang Mai Mail.




​
"Members of the RideAsia community raised 80,000 Baht to purchase food and goods for refugees at the camp."

​
"Not only have international organizations such as the UNHCR and IOM been working with local charities to distribute goods and provide housing but local Chiang Mai citizens
banded together to purchase goods and take them to the camp. Members of the RideAsia motorcycle community quickly raised approximately 80,000 baht to purchase
much needed items for the survivors. They purchased such items as rice, fresh fruit, clothing, noodles, toys, activity books, toiletries and delivered the supplies to the
Khun Yuam Municipality warehouse, where the goods were received with great appreciation then transported the 37 kms to the camp. Another load of toys and games for the children
was delivered on Friday 5th April because it was stated at Khun Yuam that one of the greatest immediate needs was for “toys for the children”.
Other locals including K. Art collected funds and filled trucks with goods for the victims, Central Airport Plaza staff collected clothing and donated boxes of clothing and bags
of rice to be delivered to the camp as well while local NGOs such as Best Friend Library and Free Bird Café organized donations and deliveries. "
 
Surin refugee camp before the fire



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Looks like the trails finish around Ban Ho Pa and there doesn't seem to be a main trail west to the Surin refugee camp. Will ask LR if his army maps have any information regarding walking trails


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From the last mapping trip in the Surin camp area, it also confirms no visible trail west to the Surin camp

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Map copyright RideAsia.net 2013 - All rights reserved
 
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