Three Children Die in Fire in Deir Al Balah

At approximately 7:30 pm on 1 April 2012, in the town of Deir Al Balah in Middle Gaza district, a fire broke out in a family apartment inside a room where three children were sleeping.
  All three children died and the apartment was completely destroyed by the fire.
  The children’s mother and six-month-old sister survived.
  According to information gathered by Al Mezan’s field workers, the children’s mother had lit a candle in their room, located on the upper floor apartment of the family home, because the electricity was off.
  The room’s contents were accidentally ignited and the room consumed in flames.
  The children died due to severe burns and lack of oxygen due to smoke inhalation.
  The deceased are: Sabry Raed Basheer, 4; Nadine Raed Basheer, 7; and Farah Raed Basheer, 5.
When she noticed the fire, the mother screamed for help, and many people from the family and neighbors rushed into the house.
  They were able to enter the burning room through the windows and remove the children.
  The youngest sister, Reem, was rescued in time and is the only surviving child in the family.
  The children were taken to Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al Balah, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
  The mother suffered severe psychological shock.
Residents of the neighborhood where the incident occurred informed Al Mezan that the electricity had been cut off at 2:00 pm on the day of the tragedy, Sunday 1 April 2012.
  Power outages last for twelve hours and are followed by six hours of electricity