Following the incident, the leadership in the settlement and Lamwo district local government recommended the immediate installation of lightning arresters on major buildings within the refugee settlement.
Some of the survivors of Saturday lightning strike queue for medical treatment at Paluda Health Center III in Palabek Refugee Settlement in Lamwo District. Photo by Denis Oling
The police have named the victims of Saturday's
lightning strike in the Palabek Refugee Settlement in Lamwo District. The
incident which happened at about 5:30 pm left 14 South Sudan refugees dead,
among them 12 children and 2 adults while 34 other people sustained injuries.
They reportedly sheltered from the rain at a World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution center in Zone 8, Block 2. The police have since identified
the female victims as Nyamaet Thiluak 17, a resident of Block 4, Zone 8, Nyachot
Mawichnyuon 17, from Block 1, Zone 8, Nyakueh Gatgueng 15 a resident of Block
1, Zone 8, Nyagai Diew 9 from Block 2, Zone 8, Tany Tai 12, from block 2, Zone
8, and Nyathak Mariner 12 from block 2, Zone 8.
The male victims are Chaar Tot 18,
a resident of Block 1, Zone 8, Madol Wigjang 21 from Block 3, Zone 8, Jima Gat
Tiok, 14 from Block 2, Zone 8, Tidial Gatluak, 16 from Block 2, Zone 8, Chop
Matai Chop 15 from Block 2, Zone 8, and John Lul Riek 14, from Block 2, Zone 8.
Others are Khamis Tut 14 from Block 1, Zone 8, and Tura Betu 14, a resident of Block
3, Zone 8.
John Pasquale Udo, the Refugee
Welfare Council 3 Chairperson at Palabek Refugee Settlement said some of the
deceased and the injured had been attending a choir practice at a nearby incomplete
church in Block 2 Zone 8. He noted that others had been playing football. According to Udo, the victims all
rushed to a makeshift structure at the food distribution Centre to take shelter
after a mild downpour before being struck.
Following the incident, the
leadership in the settlement and Lamwo district local government recommended the
immediate installation of lightning arresters on major buildings within the refugee
settlement. According to Udo, there is a need
for all the structures within the refugee settlement to have lightning
arresters to protect not only refugees but also those who are working within
the settlement.
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On Sunday, Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, Williams Komakech directed all the implementing partners within the settlement to equip structures with lightning arresters to
prevent similar tragedies in the future. Komakech says that lightning strikes have been frequent within the settlement that calls for collective
action to avert.
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He urged building owners and
managers to work with qualified electrical professionals to install and
maintain these devices. Since the establishment of the
Palabek Refugee Settlement in 2017, three cases of lightning strikes, resulting
in 15 deaths and 36 injuries.
Christopher Omal, the chairperson
of Palabek Ogili Sub-County, who hosts the refugees, expressed shock and
sadness at the incident. "Our hearts go out to the
families affected by this tragedy," said Omal. "We will do everything
possible to support them during this difficult time." He said.
Saturday’s victims of the lightning strike were buried on Sunday in Block 4 Zone A. Meanwhile, six of those severely injured remain admitted at Paluda Health Center III while 28 have been discharged.
Julius Ocungi
Opoka Denis
Freelancer