By : Lloyd Mahachi

A devastating lightning strike claimed the lives of at least 14 people, including children, at a refugee camp in northern Uganda on Saturday night. The victims were attending a prayer service in a makeshift metallic structure at the Palabek settlement camp, which is home to approximately 80,000 South Sudanese refugees.

According to police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke, 34 others were injured in the incident and are currently receiving medical attention at local health centers. The identities of the victims have not been released.

The Palabek settlement camp, located near the Uganda-South Sudan border, provides shelter to those displaced by conflict in South Sudan. The area is prone to lightning strikes during the wet seasons, which have proven deadly in the past.

Ugandan authorities have reported that lightning strikes are a common occurrence during the wet seasons, resulting in significant loss of life. This latest tragedy highlights the vulnerability of refugee communities to natural disasters and the need for improved safety measures.

An investigation into the incident is underway, and officials are working to provide support to the affected families. The international community is also urged to provide assistance to Uganda in mitigating the effects of natural disasters and ensuring the safety of refugee populations.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi