Fire guts South Sudan Hotel *JUBA, 2 September 2013* – Fire has gutted South Sudan hotel for the second time destroying property millions of South Sudanese Pounds. The hotel located along Juba-Ministries roads and behind Millennium Hotel caught fire at around 11am local time.
“I was out of the hotel when I was called by one of the staff, that the hotel was on fire. The fire started in one of the small halls [Upper Lounge]. There was an explosion like sound and later huge balls of smoke engulfed the building, Male Garang , the General manager of the hotel said. “What has happened is a grate tragedy to us, the hotel administration, the staff and the share holders of the hotel”, Mr. Garang decried. *sympathiers gather at the hotel as fire fighters struggle to contain the fire* [Photo: Matata safi] Asked what could have caused the fire, he said a possibility of an electrical malfunction could have caused the fire though he said a committee would be formed within 24 hours to investigate the fire outbreak. No deaths or injuries were reported. Many of the people putting up in the hotel were out for work by the time of the fire. The hotel is connected to both Government power and a generator. Mr. Garang however said a number of the hotel electronic gadgets were burned the peivious day after they had switched the power supply to the city power. He said though the problem was later rectified. By the time of the fire outbreak, the hotel he said was running on a generator. *Some of the clients with their rescued belongings outside the hotel* [Photo: Matata Safi] The South Sudan fire brigade and UNMISS fire fighters managed to bring down the fire after nearly one and half hours saving the eastern wing from fire. “This is a great loss, we know how much it cost us to put up this hotel. More than 80 percent of the rooms are burnt, this means that a lot of money has been lost” Garang said. Scenarios of fre gutting hotels has been common in the past with the now closed Benjing hotel getting burnt twice. * * *Reported by Matata Safi * China pledges 200M Yuan in grants to South Sudan *JUBA, 2 September 2013 NASS* - The government of China has pledged a grant of 200 million Chinese Yuan, an equivalent of about three million US Dollars to the Government of South Sudan to support the ongoing development efforts in the country. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, The minister of Foreign Affairs said this yesterday upon arrival from New York where he went to attend the UN General Assembly Meeting. Dr. Benjamin said he was informed of the grant, at the sidelines of the UN meeting by his Chinese counterpart Hon Wang YI. He said the Chinese foreign minister congratulated the Government and the people of South Sudan on the recent good relations with Khartoum. *Dr. Benjamin addressing press upon arrival at the Juba international Airport yesterday* [Photo: Ajang Monychol] Dr. Benjamin who was in a delegation lead by the country’s Vive President H.E James Wani Igga said “the vice president made a wonderful speech” at the UN assembly where he stressed the issue of Abyei and the Sudan and Sudan relations. He said the Vice president besides meeting with the different heads of the states, he is cuurently engaged with the South Sudanese diaspora in Michigan to share with them the challenges and progress the government is making. The minister further held talks with Ali Kerti the Sudanese Foreign Affairs minister. He said his sudanese counterpart would soon visit Juba to discuss issues of bilateral relations as started by the two presidents. Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oq2qu7yqA13fNHwUbe%3DA_q_Vs7Smz04BWymaYhtOORmAg%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
