Apac storm kills one, damages food crops

By Walter Ocen in Apac One person was struck dead by lightning and thousands of acres of crops destroyed in a hailstorm which struck Acaba sub-county in Oyam county, Apac district early this month. The incident, which affected nearly nine hundred households, also damaged water sources and pit latrines. The district finance and administration committee chairman, Patrick Okwir, said the district disaster committee members funded by Actionaid will assess the extent of the damage. Okwir said many victims may face famine unless emergency food is provided. He said the magnitude of the problem was too much for the district to handle. But the district production and marketing committee chairperson, Connie Atto, expressed hope that the victims will overcome the famine if seeds are provided before the end of the month when the second season begins. She said the Langi do not want assistance in terms of food relief which is usually insufficient to sustain a family. Atto appealed to the Government and donors to assist the victims. Rain storms are common towards the end of the dry season and normally affect places with poor forest cover. Ends