Flood Victims Evicted From Primary School

Over 170 flood victims who had pitched camped at Adea Primary School in Morulem Sub County, Abim district for close to three months have started being evacuated. 

The Alir village LCI Chairperson Thomas Abeju Oluka says the eviction that commenced on Tuesday follows a three day ultimatum issued last week by the school administrator to the flood victims to immediately vacate the school premises and compounds.

According to Oluka, the affected families are mainly residents of the flood prone areas of Ayeye, Adea, Nyarikidi, Alir villages in Adea parish in Morulem Sub County who were displaced in July and August after floods that followed torrential rains that submerged and destroyed their homes. 

//Cue in: “en lok me..... Cue out: ....dit enu”//

Emmanuel Odeke A resident of Alir vilage says the situation will worsen  since the affected victims lack relief equipment to erect temporal structures in places that they are tentatively transferring too. Moses Okwii another affected resident says although the idea of their eviction is well-intentioned, the procedure is unfriendly since authorities have not allocated them an alternative place on which to temporarily settle. 

Voxpox audio //Cue in: “the flood ..... Cue out: ...me can”// 

The school head teacher Dominic Okot says the move to evict the flood victims was a decision reached by the school management committee, parents and local leaders.Okot says various learning institutions temporarily hosted flood victims but to their dismay, those who occupied Adea Primary school have remained adamant, despite having been asked a month ago to vacate the school, ahead of the official school re opening for candidate class. 

//Cue in: “we were very surprised..... Cue out: .... the school//

Richard Pax Ochen the Deputy Head teacher Adea primary school says their presence was affecting the general and smooth running of the school since some flood victims had occupied most classrooms and some teacher’s houses,  forcing some teachers to share staff houses. 

According to Ochen, the sanitation situation in the school has become appalling as latrines had filled up and water sources were congested which is posing a health risk to the learners and teachers.

//Cue in: “and as we..... Cue out: ...school compound”//

Luo audio //Cue in: “me donyo..... Cue out: ...wudi gi”//