Chris Ocowun
31 December 2008
Kampala — ABOUT 140 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Parabongo camp in Amuru district, whose huts were last week burnt down, have received relief from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
At least 282 plastic tarpaulins, 141 pangas, 141 sickles, 90 metallic buckets and 180 saucepans were distributed by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the UNHCR.
The beneficiaries said the relief was timely because they had lost all their household property.
Paula Ajok, a beneficiary, said before the donation she had to wait for her neighbours to finish cooking before borrowing their pans.
"The items will address the most immediate needs," said Jackson Obwola, the area LCI chairman.
The Christmas eve fire gutted 85 huts.
Another 36 huts had their roofs pushed off by residents to contain the spread of the fire.
During the incident, most of the residents were either in their gardens or building houses in the villages.
When they returned to the camp, it was all in ruin.
Obwola said the cause of the fire had not been established. Local leaders have been mobilising the IDPs to return home. Amuru district, however, has the lowest rate of return compared to other districts.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Amuru district disaster management chairman John Bosco Okello Loum said: "Those who have made up their minds should return home. That is another way of checking loses caused by fire."
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