Fire injures 10, destroys 350 houses, 80 shops in South Darfur camp

Ten people were injured during a massive fire that broke out in the Khor Abeche camp for the displaced in South Darfur, including three children and four women. 350 houses and 80 shops burned down completely and a communications tower belonging to Unamid and three of its offices were partially ravaged. Hassan Abakir Mohamed, one of the camp sheikhs, told Radio Dabanga that the fire broke out at about 11am on Wednesday in one of the thatched huts where some children tried to cook food. The people tried to extinguish the fire with sand and water but failed due to strong winds they failed. The Sheikh said that the losses caused by the fire amount to an estimated SDG1 million ($225,614). He appealed to the authorities and humanitarian organisations to act fast and provide food, shelter and medicine for hundreds of affected families who, he said, are currently living in the open. File photo Related: Fire destroys more than 250 homes, crops in North Darfur village (31 May 2013)