25 July 2012- Following the recent drowning deaths of two school children, UNMISS Chinese engineers began digging drains and laying culverts today in New Site area of Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The children were attempting to cross a flooded stream on their way home from school on 24 July, said Member of Parliament Julio Bensansio, who was present as the work began.

"These people suffer during the rainy season," said Wau County Commissioner John Peter Miskin. "When it rains, school children cannot cross and go to school."

Their academic performance was undermined during flooding, as they missed two to three days of school, he added.

UNMISS engineer Lt. Col. Wang Zhongua noted that the channel being excavated was 500 meters long, 5 meters wide and 1.2 meters deep.

The project would eliminate the rainy season's long-term impact, especially flooded homes and difficulties in reaching school.

The work is scheduled to be complete in three days.

The Chinese Engineering Company was supporting state authorities with road maintenance as part of the UNMISS mandate, Lt. Col Wang said.