By Richard Onapatum
A Wildfire has left a trail of destruction in Lokwakial Villlage in Lokorok Sub County, Kotido district, displacing over 127 people and reducing several villages to ashes.
Longorok Lokapelinyang a 56 year-old is among the victims, who lost his home and everything he owned in a fire that destroyed 59 households in Lokwakial sub-county.The crisis extends to other sub counties of Kacheri and Nakapelimoru, where unknown fires fueled by dry winds and human activity have gutted several villages, worsening food insecurity in communities already grappling with poverty and hunger.
Longorok who was rescued by the local people from entering the fire which gutted his home, destroying, all household items, including money and livestock is now getting treatment at Kotido general hospital.
Speaking to our reporter on his hospital bed, Longorok said that as families pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, they cling to the hope that government and humanitarian intervention will help them rebuild before it is too late.
On the other hand leaders in Kacheri sub-region have raised concerns over the continued burning of bushes that have destroyed people’s properties.Mark Longoli, the LCIII Kacheri town council says the pastoralists have for so long been burning bushes to clear spaces for rat hunting, killing ticks, and allowing fresh grass to germinate for their livestock.
He said this has continued for the last three months despite the ongoing community sensitization on the measures to mitigate fire outbreaks. He added that the fire outbreak has become a disaster that requires urgent attention.
Lobok Ilukol Loganga, the vice LCI Nayonae ward, Moru-Angimoe village, Kokuwam parish Kacheri town council, confirmed that several homesteads in his village have been gutted by the wildfire.
Magdalena Akello and Maria Atoo some of the affected residents, say the fire started approximately two kilometers away before spreading uncontrollably to their homes.
Karamoja region is currently grappling with wild fire outbreaks that has ravaged several homesteads.