Traders count heavy losses as inferno ravages Garissa’s Hagadera refugee camp market
The blaze ripped through the bustling Hagadera refugee camp market in Garissa County, destroying stalls and goods worth millions as traders watched their livelihoods go up in flames.
Dozens of traders at Hagadera refugee camp market in Garissa County are counting heavy losses after a fierce fire tore through the bustling trading centre today, reducing stalls and goods worth millions of shillings to ashes.
The blaze, which broke out around 11:40 am, spread rapidly through the congested market area before emergency teams from the Kenya Red Cross and local fire departments managed to contain it.
More To Read
- KWS rescues cheetah cub raised by woman in Garissa
- Garissa commissioner vows crackdown on crime amid surge in violence
- Garissa Assembly demands accountability over inconsistencies in road project reports
- Construction work at Tana River Bridge disrupts water supply in Garissa
- Court nullifies Garissa’s Kamuthe Conservancy registration in landmark land rights ruling
- Garissa leaders warn poaching, foreign travel advisories threaten tourism
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as traders scrambled to salvage their goods from the flames.
“It all happened so fast — one minute we were selling, the next everything was on fire,” said Halima Osman, a clothes vendor who managed to save only a few items. “I have rescued a few of my properties, but many lost their entire stock. This was our only source of income.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though early reports suggest it may have started in one of the wooden stalls before spreading to neighbouring structures. Several people sustained injuries and were rushed to IRC Hagadera Hospital for treatment.
Hagadera Market serves as a vital commercial hub for residents of the nearby refugee camp, making the disaster a major economic blow to the local community.
Kenya Red Cross volunteers and locals join efforts to extinguish the fire that swept through Hagadera refugee camp market. (Photo: Issa Hussein)
“This market is the heartbeat of Hagadera,” noted Abdirizak Noor, a trader who lost his electronics shop. “We depend on it to feed our families — now we're left with nothing but ashes.”
He added that this was not the first time a fire had broken out in the market, which serves one of the most densely populated refugee camps in the region.
Officials from the Department of Refugee Services, the Kenya Red Cross, and the Kenya Police are assisting affected traders. Meanwhile, the UNHCR has pledged to collaborate with county authorities to review market safety standards and enhance fire preparedness.
Garissa County officials have also called for urgent measures to improve market layouts and ensure easier access for fire engines during emergencies.
“We must learn from this tragedy,” said Hassan Abdi, a county disaster officer. “Better planning and safety awareness can prevent such losses in the future.”
As smoke cleared over Hagadera, the community began the painful process of recovery — a stark reminder of the fragility of livelihoods built in informal refugee markets.
Top Stories Today
