Fire razes villages in South Sudan’s Aweil North; 37 people died and 93 injured

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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

A wildfire caused by strong winds swept through villages in Aweil North burned 130 houses and caused the death of 37 people, 17 of them women. The 93 people who were injured were brought to Mayen Ulem PHCC whereas some of these were transferred to Aweil Civil hospital for further medical attention.

The incident happened late Monday, 6 May 2019, in the villages of Makuac Kotic, Mangar Makuac and Karpalou, all a part of World Vision’s Food Assistance Program.

World Vision provides monthly food assistance to these villages located in the remote area of Northern Bahr El Gazal State of South Sudan.

 

The food distribution was temporarily suspended until next week as people affected mourned for their dead and took care of the wounded in the hospitals. Government assessment, supported by other organizations, identified the immediate needs as shelter materials, medicines and food supply. Many of those who received their food supply lost them on the fire. An estimated 690 people were currently displaced.

South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) further reported that 1167 sheep, 2636 chicken, 837 cattle and 1563 goats got burned. Food assistance staff Dut Deng Malong has witnessed the incident while in the vicinity facilitating an activity. Garang Aleu, World Vision’s food assistance officer said he saw the burned houses and was deeply moved by the condition of people on treatment in the hospital.

World Vision’s monthly food assistance program in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) supports 138 beneficiaries with 6.654MT of assorted food supply. In collaboration with RRC and local government authorities, World Vision is set to respond after needs assessment has been released.

All the villages affected are in remote locations of Northern Bahr El Gazal State. The village of Mangar Makuac is approximately 79 kilometers from Aweil town. Aleu adds, “It was difficult to see families sitting under the sun without shelter after the disaster.” He said the people appealed for shelter, food, jerry cans for water collection, household materials, seeds and tools.

Photos by Garang Aleu/World Vision