By Haruna Kuyateh
A fire on Sunday morning in Suwareh Kunda village, Lower Badibou, destroyed the household of Yaya Suwareh and his wife, Yaya Touray, leaving the family in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The blaze, which erupted around 9:00 a.m., consumed household items, foodstuffs, clothing, and educational materials. Residents said the fire was sparked when a six-year-old boy accidentally mishandled a matchstick while his parents were away in their garden.
The family commended residents for their swift action, which helped contain the fire before the arrival of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service.
Yaya Touray, mother of seven, said she lost all her belongings, including jewellery, and currently has no clothing. The family has appealed to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS), and other humanitarian organisations for emergency support.
Residents have renewed calls for a fire service station in Kerewan to ensure faster emergency response. They noted that existing stations in Barra and Farafenni are distant and urged the reactivation of hydrant points to aid firefighting efforts.
