A year after the four storey building collapsed at mobil Guinness Douala 5 subdivision, killing over 35 occupants, and injuring more than 20 others, the incident site a year on is quiet, bushy and gradually becoming a trash pit for surrounding residents.

Visiting the place, some victims and witnesses had returned there in remembrance of their loved ones who perished in the rubles on July 23rd, 2023.

Asked whether they benefited the promised financial assistance from the Douala city council and ministry of housing and urban development, they laughed before explaining that looked like they were pranked.

‘The government has not given us any dime. Nothing. At the Douala city council, they made us wander from one office to another. We borrowed money to compile documents requested. A woman we met even told us we should be thanking God we survived’. Richard Neba, who lost his fiancée in the rubbles revealed.

Another victim said they were asked to present the birth certificates of those they lost.

‘At one point
we were asked to bring the birth certificate of those we claimed we lost . Isn’t it funny? Everything got lost in the rubles. How are we supposed to find them. Nothing was retrieved. I think it was a way to close the file. We left and never went back there.’ Achille Collinet, a survivor who lost his wife and 8-year-old daughter told CNA.

Since then, these victims had to move on and restart life though the tragic incident remains stamped on their memory.

‘There’s nothing else one can do. We expect nothing again from the government. Everyone has decided to struggle and move on. Till date , some of us have no where to stay. I am sharing a room with a friend. I just need to forget the government and concentrate to rebuild my life.’ Achille Collinet said.

The last reward will be a ecumenical mass to be offered on Saturday July 27, 2024, for their deceased loved ones.

Source: Cameroon News Agency