The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer, attended the Medal Parade Ceremony for the Republic of Korea Horizontal Military Engineering Contingent (ROK HMEC) in Bor. During the ceremony, a minute of silence was observed in honor of the peacekeepers that have lost their lives serving the United Nations all around the world.

Local authorities and citizens of Bor commended the Korean contingent for their passion for peace in South Sudan.

The contingent has been active in developing infrastructure in the area. They rehabilitated a 125 Km road from Bor to Mangalla, upgraded Bor Airport as well as construct the Hanbit unit vocational center in Bor.

Mr. Shearer asked the contingent commander and the team to support durable peace in South Sudan through infrastructural development, to pave way for improved livelihoods for the people of Bor and Pibor.

“It’s not enough to sign peace on paper; we have to build a foundation for peace as well and that is about development, it’s about opportunities and about education. But it’s also about road and getting roads build so that we have connection between people so that thrive can happen so that  economic activity can take place so that jobs can be recreated and engineering company help build that durable peace.”

The Special Representative also visited Jonglei state council of ministers where he met governor Philip Aguer Panyang and members of his government. Part of the discussions was how to consolidate the cessation of hostilities agreement signed between youth of Bor Dinka and Pibor to enable sustainable, durable peace.

After the meeting, Governor Panyang commended the role played by the United Nation Mission in South Sudan to support peace building.

“We had been discussing issues related to security in general, issues related to humanitarian services like support to the roads and support to the activities of drainage system in Bor.”

The SRSG also toured Marol market and a fish market constructed with support from UNIMSS Quick Impact Projects identified by the community and prioritizes community development.

ROK HMEC has provided training in electrification, masonry, construction, welding, fabrication and photo-video editing to youth both in and out the Protection of Civilian site in Bor.  

Over 30 trainees who have been trained for 12 weeks in agriculture, carpentry, welding, electricity and construction graduated.

In 2013, ROK HMEC constructed a dyke around Bor town from Maluachat to Achingdiir preventing flooding in the area.