On Tuesday 7 February the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in coordination with the government, began rehabilitation work at the airstrip in Torit. UNMISS is providing heavy machinery, other equipment and manpower to improve 1.4 kilometres of runway and the water drainage system.

 While the maintenance operation goes on, the airstrip has to be closed.

“It is closed for development purposes for 14 days. Most of the work is done by them (UNMISS) but we are working hand in hand with them”, Betty Imoya, minister of physical Infrastructure, land and urban planning, says, adding that the eroded runway has to be repaired before the rainy season starts.

Gerald Njoroge, Field Administrative Officer at UNMISS in Torit, says UNMISS is helping to improve the airstrip in order to bring economic and social benefits to the area by making sure the runway can be used year round. 

“The Torit air strip is key infrastructure for the state as well as for UNMISS because we use it for moving passengers and cargo’, Mr. Njoroge says, noting that a functioning airstrip is also important for humanitarian aid to access the area.

The Governor of Imotong State, Nartisio Manir Loluke, is grateful for the work and cooperation of the UN and other development partners to improve the living conditions of the citizens of the state. He emphasizes the importance of everybody “putting their hands together as development agencies”.