allAfrica.com                                                                               *


Fire Razes 400 Huts in Amuru Camp


New Vision (Kampala)


NEWS
9 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008

By Chris Ocowun
Kampala

HUNDREDS of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Alero camp in Amuru district
were left homeless when mysterious fires burnt down over 430 huts for three
consecutive days.

Local leaders said the fire broke out on Saturday in Central zone, spreading to
Labeja and Katong-rec zones on Sunday and Alworo and Lajok-Ocwee zones on
Monday.



The fires have forced many other displaced persons to desert their huts,
spending the nights outside.

At least 140 huts were razed in Labeja zone, 170 in Central and 120 huts in
Katong-rec zone. The fire broke out when the displaced persons had gone to the
gardens.

"We have decided to leave the huts and stay outside without belongings because
we fear that fire may break-out at night when we are sleeping and burn us all.
Some of us lost our groundnuts and other produce that we had just harvested,"
an elderly woman, Edisa Akidi, said.

She revealed that many displaced persons had moved to Oyenya, a neighbouring
village, where they were setting up new structures.

"We request for some relief items like blankets and household kits from
well-wishers," Akidi added.

Rose Acayo, 55, said such occurrences would be avoided if their houses were
roofed with iron sheets.


  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
                         Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------