Camps safety push.

Byline: Rebecca Torr

A CAMPAIGN to instal new and safe gas cookers in labour camps is underway following a spate of fires caused by kerosene stoves over the past few years.

Helping Hands was inspired to launch the campaign after having spent several years providing blaze victims with necessities such as food and clothing.

"Kerosene is highly inflammable. Usually workers forget to switch off the stoves and the fire begins there, especially because kitchens are cramped," volunteer Gita Krishnan told the GDN.

"We wanted to do something to prevent fires, so we thought of replacing the kerosene stoves with gas because they would be safer.

"The labourers couldn't afford the gas connection because it costs about BD75 for the connection, the cylinder, piping, hose, clips and counter top stove.

"Then we thought maybe they wouldn't be able to afford the refill of the cylinder which costs BD2.5, but they said it was just the initial cost of the connection and other items they couldn't afford."

The charity organisation has already installed gas stoves in four labour camps in Budaiya.

The fifth camp to benefit is in Isa Town and home to 40 Bangladeshi labourers. The camp had a kitchen blaze in July which was caused when a kerosene stove caught fire.

"This is the first camp we helped that had a blaze because most times when a fire occurs the camp is destroyed, but with this one only the kitchen was gutted and the landlord said he would redo the kitchen," said Ms Krishnan.

"So we replaced everything in the kitchen, including the fridge and cooking utensils, and we gave five gas connections at a cost of about BD500.

"They said having the gas stove changed their lives because more people could cook at the same time and the cooking itself was more hygienic.

"It was also faster. For some it meant they got an extra hour in the evening to relax - so this raised the quality of life."

The Isa Town camp's gas connection and kitchen items were possible thanks to a donation of about BD1,000 from the Awali Golf Club.

The club raised the money through various competitions and initiatives at the course. Club immediate past captain Myra Turner said when she heard about the campaign she was immediately moved to help.

"I felt quite passionate about what Helping Hands was doing," she said.

"They are a charity that is forgotten, there are larger ones, but whatever they do goes directly to the people who need it."

Ms Krishnan explained that the plan now was to identify camps where kerosene stoves needed to be replaced by gas and for sponsors to come forward.

"We need to identify camps that need help and they have to be something of a permanent nature.

"Once the connections are given we will continue to have periodical visits to these places and talk about hygiene because if there are rats they could gnaw away at the hose."

To sponsor the initiative or to suggest a camp in need of help, contact Ms Krishnan on 39683130, Rasila Savani 39467494 or Shirin Hussain 39402907.

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