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6-year-old children's home fire victim buried in Haiti

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AP Port-au-Prince
Last Updated : May 21 2020 | 5:16 AM IST

A 6-year-old victim of a fire that killed 13 children and two adults in a children's home outside the Haitian capital in February has been buried in a ceremony attended by her mother and one other mourner.

Lovena Luberice died in the home run by the U.S.-based Church of Bible Understanding, which has millions in annual revenue but repeatedly failed inspections at its two facilities in Haiti.

Authorities suspect the fire started because the home used candles instead of a functioning generator or battery in a country where power failures are frequent.

Lovena's body was held by authorities for three months awaiting autopsy because officials are investigating if the church or its employees bear criminal responsibility for the fire. The autopsy was never performed, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Lovena's mother, Ermilia, attended the ceremony at the Alma Funeral Home along with one friend, Yolande Jean-Louis.

Jean-Louis said other family members couldn't attend because they couldn't afford the car fare.

The church's Haitian lawyer had promised victims' families $200-$300 in compensation but Luberice said she had only received about $200.

After waiting for months, it was time to bury her, Luberice said. This pain in my heart is never going away."

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First Published: May 21 2020 | 5:16 AM IST

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