Garissa Women Leader Mulki Warsame Donates Umbrellas to Suuq Muqdi Fire Victims

Garissa County Women Leader Mulki Warsame has come to the aid of traders affected by the recent Suuq Muqdi fire.

The 2022 UDA Garissa Women Representative flagbearer led the donation of dozens of umbrellas to help the traders continue with their businesses as they recover from the disaster.

The inferno, which broke out on Monday morning, destroyed stalls and goods worth thousands of shillings. It left many traders stranded and forced to operate in the open under harsh weather conditions.

Mrs. Mulki Warsame said the umbrellas were meant to provide temporary relief to the traders as efforts to mobilize more support for them continue.

Garissa Women Leader Mulki Warsame distributes umbrellas to Suuq Muqdi traders affected by the recent market fire, offering them shelter as they restart their businesses. Photo/ Yunis Dekow

“We know the pain and losses you have gone through after the fire incident. These umbrellas are a small gesture to help shield you from the sun and rain as you struggle to rebuild your livelihoods,” she said.

Mrs. Mulki called on other leaders, well-wishers, and humanitarian organizations to join hands in supporting the affected families and helping them recover fully.

“This is not the end of our support. We will continue engaging stakeholders to ensure sustainable solutions are put in place so that you can bounce back stronger,” she added.

The traders, many of whom were left in despair after the blaze, welcomed the gesture with gratitude, saying it would help them as they try to restart their businesses.

Fatuma Ibrahim, a hawker who lost her entire stock in the fire, said the umbrellas would offer them much-needed shade.

“We lost everything in the fire and have been selling under the scorching sun. These umbrellas will at least give us comfort and protect us as we begin again. We thank Mulki for remembering us,” Fatuma said.

Abdullahi Mohamed described the donation as timely.

“This is a big relief for us as we wait for the county government to assist in rebuilding our stalls. It shows that we are not forgotten,” he told Kulan Post.

Zainab Haji, one of the affected vendors, urged other leaders to emulate Mulki’s initiative.

“This support may seem small, but it means a lot to us. It gives us hope in these difficult times. We still appeal for more assistance so that we can fully recover,” she said.

Garissa Women Leader Mulki Warsame distributes umbrellas to Suuq Muqdi traders affected by the recent market fire, offering them shelter as they restart their businesses. Photo/ Yunis Dekow

The Suuq Muqdi fire has once again raised concerns about the lack of disaster preparedness in Garissa’s markets.

Mrs. Mulki, the former UDA Garissa Women Representative candidate, assured the traders that she would champion their cause and work with the relevant authorities to address their long-term needs.

She also called for urgent interventions, including the construction of a fire station and provision of firefighting equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.