At least eight shops and a drug store have been burned down in Gudele suburb, together with goods worth some 100,000 South Sudanese pounds.

Eye witnesses told Eye Radio that the fire broke out at around 4am yesterday.

One of the shop owners, Justin Francis, says all the goods in his store were destroyed in the fire.

“We had eight or nine stores with new machines that were inside and all got burnt.”

For Jackline Idriss, who was dealing in cereals, the shop was her only family livelihood.

“This is where we feed our children,” he exclaimed. “I borrowed some of the goods. There is no way I can get to pay this money back; it has taken me back.”

And another shop owner, Alfonse Alken, expressed disappointment in the authorities.

“When people called the fire brigade, they didn’t pick up their phones and when they picked up at last, they said they had only one fire engine and it had broken down,” he said.

The traders urged the fire fighters to station their facilities around market areas to help when there are emergencies.