Rangoon - With no government aid, the nearly 3,000 refugees in Rangoon's suburban Hlaing Tharyar Township remain homeless, a month after their homes were consumed by fire.

Local residents of the Oat Kan Ward told Mizzima that while some of the 2,969 fire refugees take shelter in Buddhist monasteries, others are forced to stay with relatives. And those who have no relatives must bear the economic pain of renting accommodation.

The refugees are victims of a blaze that broke out on February 25, which according to a Township official consumed at least 201 houses and left 1,260 women and 1,709 men homeless.

"I sat and looked at my destroyed home in the morning daily," a 40-year old lady, who lost her house in the fire, told Mizzima.

Another local resident, who talked to Mizzima on condition of anonymity said, "It is still surprising for some people that such a huge number of people are from just over 201 houses."

The local explained that the refugees are mainly industrial workers, working in Hlaing Tharyar, which the government has transformed into industrial zones. The industrial workers lived in rented houses with many people cramped together into small rooms.

While the government has made no effort to provide aid to the refugees, it has also controlled individual donors from freely donating to the refugees.An elder among the refugees told Mizzima, "We dare to accept donations only when the Township authorities allow them."

"There are a lot of people who want to donate. But if people want to donate, they have to give their donations to the Township authorities first. And the authorities will then redistribute the assistance to the refugees. The authorities claim it is this way to ensure that all the refugees get an equal share."