Several traders are counting heavy losses after a fire gutted a section of the market in Ifo Refugee Camp, part of the Dadaab refugee complex, on Tuesday evening.
The blaze, whose cause has not yet been established, spread quickly through the congested market area, destroying stalls and merchandise before residents and volunteers managed to contain it.
Affected traders said they watched helplessly as their livelihoods were reduced to ashes. Mohamed Abdi, a businessman in the camp, said he lost goods worth about Sh6 million, describing the fire as a devastating blow to his only source of income.
Another trader, Amina Hassan, said the absence of fire engines worsened the situation, forcing residents to rely on volunteers to fight the flames.
Fire incidents are frequent in Ifo and other camps within the Dadaab complex, largely due to overcrowded structures, use of open flames, and lack of proper firefighting equipment.
The Dadaab Refugee Complex, established in 1992, hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees and remains one of the largest refugee settlements in the world.
No injuries or deaths were reported. Residents have called on authorities and humanitarian agencies to strengthen fire prevention and response measures to protect lives and livelihoods.
