Cardi B Paying Funeral Costs For Victims Of Bronx Fire

Cardi B has pledged to help the families who lost loved ones in the Bronx fire by paying for funeral costs.

The award-winning rapper, who grew up in Bronx, NY, will take care of funeral expenses for all 17 victims. The generous announcement was made through a press release.

A tragic fire occurred on Jan. 9 that claimed the lives of 17 people–including children. It was originally reported that 19 passed away, but that number was corrected. A press release revealed that the fire was caused by a faulty space heater.

The victims were eight children and nine adults, all of who were a part of a tight-knit community of African immigrants. Nearly all the victims were Gambian.

via The New York Times, the victims are:

Fatoumata Tunkara, 43, Omar Jambang, 6, and Ousmane Konteh, 2

Fatoumata Tunkara and her 6-year-old son were visiting a cousin in the building. They were killed in the smoky blaze.

Sera Janneh, 27

Sera attended Lehman College where she was studying psychology and planning on becoming a therapist.

Seydou Toure, 12 and Haouwa Mahamadou, 5

Siblings Seydou and Haouwa were Malian, and they were laid to rest in New Jersey last week. Two friends of Seydou said that all three of them just made the school’s basketball team. He was set to be a point guard.

Four members of the Drammeh family–Fatoumata, 50, Muhammed, 12, Fatoumala, 21, and Nyumaaisha (also known as Aisha), 19

The family just celebrated Muhammed’s 12th birthday the day before the fire.

Fatoumala was a junior majoring in political science at the University at Buffalo and Aisha was a nursing student.

Isatou Jabbie, 31, and Hagi Jawara, 47

Married couple Isatou Jabbie and Hagi Jawara worked multiple jobs to care for their four children.

The children range in age from 6 to 15 and were visiting their grandmother in Gambia at the time of the fire.

Dukuray family: Haja, 37, Haji, 49, Mustapha, 12, Mariam, 11, Fatoumata, 5

Haja, her husband Haji, 49, and their three children lived on the 19th floor, and relatives would gather in their apartment during Ramadan nights to cook Gambian-style chicken and joll of rice.

Cardi B is working with the Mayor’s Fund’s Bronx Fire Relief Fund to help victims’ families, and will also cover repatriation expenses, as some victims will be buried in the Gambia, a country in West Africa. 

“I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal,” Cardi said in a statement, per Wednesday’s release.

She added, “I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.” 

The American Red Cross is helping victims of the fire and is currently accepting donations. Those interested in donating can visit the page set up for them.