The Japanese engineering contingent of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has initiated road repair work at Gudele Bridge in Luri County, Jubek State. The maintenance operation will cover 35 kilometres of road and is expected to be completed in six weeks.

UNMISS Chief Engineer Scott James Hackney says that this particular road improvement project represents a tiny fraction of the currently 1,200 kilometres of South Sudanese roads, known as Main Supply Routes, currently being renovated.

Better roads, he argues, will benefit local communities as they will increase their security and access to markets, healthcare and other facilities. Most parts of the roads being repaired on have been completed, but work is still ongoing in many locations, conducted by UNMISS engineering troops from various countries.

 “We have already completed the road in Bentiu, which was done by the Indians. The Chinese are currently working on the route from Rumbek to Kuajok and the Bangladeshi are also doing very good work from Rokon to Mvolo”, Mr. Hackney says.

Apart from renovating the road between Juba and Rokon, the Japanese engineers are constructing and leveling a playground at the University of Juba.

Colonel Yoshiro Tanaka, commander of the 11^th Japanese engineering company, says they are very much honoured to build and repair roads for the people of South Sudan. He believes that this work will both increase the cooperation between UNMISS and the South Sudanese and contribute to the development of the country.

The Commander of the South Sudan National Police Service in Luri County, Brig. Adil Juma, is full of praise for UNMISS for the road repair work the Mission is currently undertaking. He says that good roads will ease transportation difficulties and facilitate police patrols, which will improve the security in the area.