By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
A fire outbreak that swept through the female hostel at the University of Makeni(UniMak), Yoni campus on Monday 15th April destroyed the twenty-one room building leaving the students displaced , according to the University’s Public Relations Directorate, Shebora Smaba Kamara.
Kamara was speaking to Politico in an interview on 16th of April this year, in which he confirmed that belongings of students were damaged by the fire, but that there were no injuries which he believes was due to the absence of many students who were still on holiday. “Few of the students were on campus at the moment,” he added
He however couldn’t confirm the cause of the fire. “The fire started at around 8 o’clock in the evening, blazing for about two hours,” he narrated, saying they had earlier contacted the fire force office in Makeni but got no response.
He however applauded the intervention of residing students on the campus and the residents of Yoni village who intervened and extinguished the blaze, stopping it from spreading to the male hostels.
The university’s administration secured the properties removed from the affected building, taking them to a safer place and providing temporary shelter for the affected students, at the staff quarters and vacant rooms at the female counterpart hostels.
Kamara assured that the affected students will not be stranded and will be relocated to the newly constructed hostel which was built and handed over by the Bombali District Council to the university’s administration for “proper” management.
Speaking to Politico, the Students’ Union President for UNIMAK, Edmond Alim Forna said the cause of the fire is yet to be known, and that the students’ body is assisting the university’s administration in the investigations.
The UniMak Students’ Representative Council put out a press release on 16th of April assuring the affected students of support and thanking the residents of Yoni for their swift response in containing the fire. “Furthermore, we commend the administration for their prompt action in relocating the affected students and providing necessary assistance. Your efforts are deeply appreciated as we work together to address the aftermath of this unfortunate incident,” the release states.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (19/04/24)
