Hailstorm ravages Soroti villages, hundreds homeless

TRAGEDY

SOROTI - Over 200 people in Ojama parish, Katine sub-county, Soroti district have been rendered homeless after a hailstorm wreaked havoc in the area Wednesday evening.

The hailstorm which lasted over three hours destroyed people's houses, trees, crops and injured over 10 people in the four villages of Obalanga, Ojama, Oamai and Orieta.

One of the houses destoyed by the hailstorm in ojama village, Soroti district. Photo by Emmanuel Opio.

"I had never witnessed such disaster since my birth. We are now left hopeless since all the crops were destroyed amidst biting poverty and high food prices in the market," Michael Edoru, the LC1 chairperson of Obalanga village said.

Another building destroyed by the hailstorm in Ojama village, Soroti district. Photo by Emmanuel Opio.

 
Some of the injured people were admitted at Tubur Health Centre III and Atirir health Centre IV.

The medics referred two babies to Soroti regional referral hospital for x-ray scanning over suspected fractures in their bodies and internal injuries sustained.

Josephine Abwolo, a pregnant woman and mother of six, was admitted at Tubur Health Centre III after a brick fell on her waist and inflicted severe.

Josephine Abwolo, a pregnant woman admitted at Tubur Health Centre III after sustaining injuries from hailstorm tragedy. Photo by Emmanuel Opio.

 
"The hailstorm killed all my chicken and destroyed all the food stored. My children were at school by the time the tragedy happened," Abwolo said.

Abwolo expressed need for government and non-governmental organisations to come to their rescue with food relief and other necessary aid.

Moses Eroju Emugu, the LC3 chairperson of Katine sub-county, said the disaster happened amidst a food crisis resulting from a long dry spell.

"The sub-county cannot afford to help the disaster hit villages because we have very little resource envelop. We do not even plan for such disasters since our revenue is very little. The ministry of relief and disaster preparedness should swing in to action," Emugu said.

Emugu also encouraged people to plant more trees and protect the already existing ones to help curb such disasters.