1 July 2013 - Aiming to ease travel for people in Jonglei State, UNMISS South Korean engineers began repairing the main road in the state capital Bor today.

"As a peacekeeping force, we are here to assist (the government) in maintaining peace and stability," said First Lieutenant Jeon Sangwoo, site manager of the road repairs project, which is set to be completed by the end of September.

A total of 15 engineers are working on the 19-kilometre stretch of road, which was damaged by heavy rains.

Bor resident Emmanuel Thon expressed delight at the engineers' work. "Roads are one of the most serious and challenging problems for us here in Jonglei," he said.

The contingent's engineers are also assisting the government construction of a parking area for incoming flights at Bor Airstrip and a waste disposal site in the town.

"The construction of this new parking area (will play a significant role) in solving the problem of air traffic congestion," said parking area site manager Captain Han Kyuhak. "When completed, it will enhance the capacity of the airstrip."

The airstrip in the volatile state's capital is one of the busiest and crowded in the country, with daily humanitarian, commercial, government and UN flights.

Some 35 engineers are working on the 45,000 square-metre parking area, which will include a 1,040 metre-long drainage ditch. Work on the project began on 17 June and will continue until the end of February 2014, Captain Kyuhak said.

The engineers are constructing a road to connect the airstrip parking area with Bor's main road and another to a gas station.

Seeking to improve local hygiene in the state, 20 South Korean engineers are constructing a waste disposal site in Apir locality, northeast of Bor.

Site manager Captain Lee Kyejun said the 7.5 metre-deep disposal site, covering a 2,500- metre area, will have the capacity to stock about 18,000 tons of waste.

"Dumping waste materials in a safe and confined area like this will help (to boost) hygiene and keep the environment safe," he said.

The engineers were constructing a road to connect the disposal site with the town and had already completed an eight-kilometer stretch, Captain Kyejun said.

"We (have) had serious health problems ... due to reckless disposal of waste materials," said Athong Koul, a resident of Apir. "Now we hope that this problem will be solved."

The engineering projects began after a 19 February visit to the state by Special Representative of the Secretary General Hilde F. Johnson, when she pledged that the mission would assist Jonglei in developing its infrastructure once SouthKorean engineers were deployed there.