A 3-year old boy died after a fire broke out at the UN Protection of Civilians’ site (PoC) in Bentiu town of South Sudan’s Northern Liech State on Tuesday, a camp leader said.
Yohanis Gatnyang, who heads a peace committee in the camp told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that more than 200 makeshift shelters at Sector 5 Block A were totally destroyed by the fire which started at 4:30 PM.
He said an elderly woman also sustained minor injuries in the incident suspected to have started in one of the shelters where a woman was cooking. The camp leader further explained that due to heavy winds, the fire rapidly spread across the area making it difficult to manage it.
According to Gatnyang, no one was able to recover anything from the fire saying those affected have been left with nothing and are sleeping in the open.
He urged humanitarian aid organizations to provide urgent assistance.