Late-Night Blaze Rocks Wedwiel Camp
Flames tore through Wedwiel settlement in South Sudan shortly before midnight on Friday, killing a Sudanese refugee and levelling 88 small shops that served both displaced families and the host community.
Police Inspector Philip Agany Deng said officers reached the scene at 11:40 p.m. with the county commissioner but found the market already engulfed.
Victim’s Final Attempt to Save Goods
The victim, Adam Musa, reportedly dashed back into his kiosk hoping to salvage merchandise yet became trapped by collapsing, grass-thatched walls, Deng confirmed.
Unclear Origin Fuels Concern
Initial stories circulate about cooking fires used to prepare Dhalabia bread outside shelters, but investigators have not pinned down a definitive source.
Some residents suspect newcomers masquerading as refugees to access aid might have sparked the incident, a claim yet to be corroborated by police or humanitarian agencies.
Economic Shock for Refugee Traders
Wedwiel’s informal market underpinned household budgets; traders sold tea, phone credit and staple foods to generate modest daily income.
“We lost everything, including the stock purchased on credit,” a shop owner lamented, noting that school fees and medical bills now feel unreachable.
Push for Safer Structures
Refugee representatives recalled earlier discussions with UN agencies about replacing flammable kiosks with iron-sheet stalls; they fear the catastrophe will recur unless those projects revive.
Local officials acknowledged the need for sturdier builds but cited limited resources and competing humanitarian priorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Authorities Weigh Next Steps
Inspector Deng promised a joint assessment involving police, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission and camp leadership to clarify the trigger and map preventive measures.
County authorities also appealed for emergency assistance to help affected families restart micro-businesses, stressing that economic stability bolsters overall camp security.