MALAKAL - In Upper Nile, extraordinary flooding is creating new challenges for communities already struggling with persistent conflict, widespread displacement, and extreme economic hardship.
“There used to be many houses in this area, but they have all been lost after five years of flooding. People are deeply unhappy and struggling to rebuild their lives,” explains fisherman, Daniel Deng.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is working with local authorities and communities to strengthen resilience in the face of mounting challenges, including rehabilitating roads which have been washed away or submerged across the State.
Peacekeeping engineers from India have spent months toiling in the searing hot sun to open a 154-kilometer route linking Malakal to Renk in the far north, close to the border with neighboring Sudan, and other remote locations, such as Akoka, Bunj, Paloch, and Melut.
“Severe waterlogging made the route impassable in many locations and some roads were irrecoverable. After multiple reconnaissance missions to survey the terrain, we established a new 120-kilometer alignment and repaired 34 kilometers of the old road as well,” says Major Swamynath Gokulakannan, Indian Engineering Contingent Officer.
The newly opened road is enabling communities to travel safely, boosting trade and economic growth, and supporting peacebuilding efforts.
“The new upper road is shorter compared to the waterway road, that one had many corner turns compared to this southern road, which is good, and if white soil is placed on top, vehicles will move freely without obstacles,” says community member, Joseph Peter.
The damaged roads were also impeding the access of peacekeepers to remote, conflict and flood-affected locations with the mission relying on All-Terrain-Vehicles provided by India to traverse the rough landscape. The improvements will help overcome this challenge so that a protective presence can be provided to reassure communities, build confidence and peace.
“This road is for peace. It is sign that peace has returned to Upper Nile, and UNMISS is instrumental in ensuring that peace is consolidated,” says Alfred Orono Orono, UNMISS Head of Field office in Malakal.
“When displaced families move from the former UN Protection of Civilians site to their settlements, this road will become very busy, transporting people, goods and services from Malakal to Renk, vice versa, and even all the way to Sudan.”
These connections may seem simple and expected in developed countries. But, in South Sudan, where infrastructure has been decimated by decades of conflict and under-investment, the work of these peacekeeping engineers is helping to save and change lives for the better.
