Double whammy for fire victims

Some 21 persons displaced by the fire that gutted their Chalan Piao barracks last Thursday got a double dose of trouble after being thrown out of a temporary shelter and failing to secure assistance from Karidat yesterday.

“Nobody is willing to help us,” one of the victims said, through a translator. Yesterday, they said most of them were uncertain if anyone would offer them temporary shelter.

The victims, who are mostly Chinese, said they moved out from the American Red Cross’ temporary shelter yesterday after being allegedly told to do so. Red Cross allegedly referred the group to Karidat, another nongovernment civic group.

When they trooped to Karidat’s office yesterday, Karidat officials allegedly told them, “Pick up the police report so you can be assisted,” according to one of the fire victims.

Most of the victims appeared at Karidat’s Chalan Kanoa office yesterday afternoon with copies of the police report on the fire incident, but the civic group extended no assistance. “No money, no money,” one of the victims said, quoting a Karidat staff.

Karidat executive director Angie V. Guerrero said the fire victims do not qualify for Karidat’s fire victims program, which usually entitles a qualified household to a $200 cash donation. She said the program applies to individual or family residence, not to barracks.

“They do not qualify for that [program]. They should go to Red Cross because that [fire] is a disaster. The landlord should also try to help them out,” Guerrero said.

With many barracks in bad shape, Guerrero said Karidat would not be able to shoulder the potential costs of the program should their occupants be qualified for the program.

But Guerrero said the fire victims might qualify for Karidat’s emergency food program, subject to screening procedures. “Appointment has to be made for this [screening],” she said.

“We told them that, but it seems that they don’t want to leave. They’re playing like they don’t understand what we’re trying to tell them,” she said.

The Saipan Tribune contacted Red Cross executive director John Hirsh, but he was not available for interview as he was attending a meeting. The Tribune made several phone calls again last night, but Hirsh could not be reached for an interview.