Pabbo in flames again
KAMPALA, Wednesday — At least 6,000 internally displaced persons were left homeless after a fire gutted parts of Pabbo camp in northern Uganda
KAMPALA, Wednesday — At least 6,000 internally displaced persons were left homeless after a fire gutted parts of Pabbo camp in northern Uganda, destroying hundreds of grass-thatched huts, the army said.
Pabbo camp houses over 60,000 people displaced by the LRA rebel fighting.
Christopher Ojera, the area chairman, told IRIN that the fire, which started at a corner of the camp, burnt down 547 huts. Another 705 huts, however, had their roofs pulled down in an effort by the IDPs to thwart the spread of the fire.
“The fire broke out in the early afternoon. A task force involving the army and some volunteers pulled down roofs of another 705 huts to stop the fire from spreading,†Ojera said from Pabbo, 42km northwest of Gulu town.
The Ugandan army spokesman in the region, Lt Paddy Ankunda, said from Gulu: “A fire broke out at Pabbo, but I have not ascertained the exact figures of huts burnt. Preliminary reports indicated that over 400 huts were burnt.â€
According to Ojera, the fire broke out on Monday afternoon at a time when most of the camp residents had gone to the gardens near the camp, hence the delay in containing it.
“Many of the households had received their monthly food rations three days earlier, and all this was destroyed in the huts,†Ojera added.
“People are scared but they are more concerned about the food,†he said.
Pabbo camp houses over 60,000 people displaced by the LRA rebel fighting.
Christopher Ojera, the area chairman, told IRIN that the fire, which started at a corner of the camp, burnt down 547 huts. Another 705 huts, however, had their roofs pulled down in an effort by the IDPs to thwart the spread of the fire.
“The fire broke out in the early afternoon. A task force involving the army and some volunteers pulled down roofs of another 705 huts to stop the fire from spreading,†Ojera said from Pabbo, 42km northwest of Gulu town.
The Ugandan army spokesman in the region, Lt Paddy Ankunda, said from Gulu: “A fire broke out at Pabbo, but I have not ascertained the exact figures of huts burnt. Preliminary reports indicated that over 400 huts were burnt.â€
According to Ojera, the fire broke out on Monday afternoon at a time when most of the camp residents had gone to the gardens near the camp, hence the delay in containing it.
“Many of the households had received their monthly food rations three days earlier, and all this was destroyed in the huts,†Ojera added.
“People are scared but they are more concerned about the food,†he said.