Hundreds of residents have been left homeless in Pochalla town in Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) after strong high winds destroyed homes in the town on Saturday evening.
Akway Gora Ajou, the executive director of Pochalla County, told Radio Tamazuj that the strong winds which lasted a couple of hours destroyed over 200 homes.
“The strong wind started gutting the town at 5 pm until 7 pm and more than 200 homes and schools and churches were damaged,” he said. “Residents are now left in the open.”
The local official appealed for humanitarian aid.
“Residents are trying to rebuild but there are no construction materials. We appealed to aid agencies to assess the situation and provide building materials,” he said. “We do not have the exact status of the affected but here in Pochalla there are between 5 to 10 individuals per home.”
For his part, Achaw Chapar Gilo, the county Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, said the situation is dire.
“According to our preliminary assessment, more than 200 homes had their roofs blown off or destroyed because trees fall on them. Fallen trees have also blocked roads and at least 6 people were injured by falling trees,” he said. “The road to Ethiopia is now impassable because of rain. We appeal for help. Residents do not know whether to get nails, timbers, and iron sheets or thatch grass.”
A Pochalla resident, Rev. Gilo Obang, confirmed that many homes have been destroyed.
“The Presbyterian Church where I serve has been damaged and people are in a sorry state,” he said. “Many people are sleeping in the open meaning that should it rain, the situation will worsen.”