Esteban Ccahuana is a 55-year-old carpenter, who received bitter news this Christmas that forced him to return to Arequipa due to a fire that reduced his home in Mariano Melgar to ashes, losing his work tools, as well as his nephew’s belongings.
The last 8 years of the carpenter have been marked by tragedy; in it 2018 he lost his entire family6 members in total, during an accident that occurred in Ocoña, in the remembered Rey Latino bus that plunged into an abyss, leaving 44 people dead. Despite these blows received, Don Esteban remains firm and assures that he will continue forward just as he has been doing.
LOSS OF FAMILY IN ACCIDENT
“I have lost 6 members of my family, my wife, my daughter, my brother-in-law, my niece; my brother-in-law was a young man who has studied since he was 12 years old, he has lived with me and he has studied with my son, he became a professional and worked in a company and got married,” He told about that accident in which his family returned to Arequipa
This tragedy left Don Esteban completely alone, who months later would face a trial against his brothers for the ownership of his home. “My sisters also gave me trouble, they took away my house, they made me pay civil compensation, I lost everything, they even wanted to take away this house from me, but I keep going (…) my nephew hit me, my brothers against me, that’s why I went to Juliaca”he commented, adding that he had to pay up to 5,000 soles in civil reparation.
five years ago, Don Esteban decided to travel to Juliaca (Puno), where he continued working in carpentry.but returning every end of the month to sign a control at the Mariano Melgar Prosecutor’s Office.
FIRE ON CHRISTMAS
Helped by his neighbors and nephews, he carpenter continues with the work of cleaning debris after the fire recorded at 00:54 hours on December 25, which would have caused by pyrotechnics that hit the electrical wiring, triggering the accident.
In this disaster lost two of his tools most valuable items that he left in Arequipa, both wood cutters valued at 1,500 soles each, “I also had other small machines, like sanders”he said.
Added to this are belongings, groceries and a prefabricated room where his nephew livedin addition to books in which he placed little by little the savings he was collecting, up to a total of 5,000 soles that were also lost during the fire.
Along with this, barbershop chairs valued at 4,000 soles owned by his nephew, also ended up reduced to scrap, “I had bought from Lima on sale, and they were boxed, sealed,” he noted. Everything lost adds up to a total of 35,000 soles
With the intention of rebuilding his home, Esteban Ccahuana asked citizens for supporteither through materials such as calamine or financial support through Yape 959099048which is your phone number.
Likewise, those who wish to support with groceries can come to their home located in the young town of La Rinconada, next to the social premises, block A, lot 19.
“Reroof it, because it’s not going to stay like this, I have to move on, life goes on and I have to continue”expressed as the next step to follow once the cleaning work is completed.
SUPPORT FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF MARIANO MELGAR
The carpenter indicated that the District Municipality of Mariano Melgar told him that this Saturday morning they will come with personnel and machinery to remove the debris, a work that he is currently carrying out with his neighbors, who also requested this support due to the strong smell of soot that still emanates from the place.
