When the blue helmets from one of UNMISS’s engineering contingents based in Malakal -- the Indian Horizontal and Mechanical Company (HMEC) – first arrived at Khor Adar, the situation on the ground was dire.

“Recent floods had destroyed the five-kilometer main junction connecting two major towns in the Upper Nile region—Bunj and Melut. Women carrying heavy goods on their heads were wading through waist-deep water with volunteer guides leading them through,” says Lieutenant-Colonel M.P.S Ghai, Commanding Officer. “We knew that we absolutely had to do something to help them as soon as possible,” he adds.

UNMISS peacekeepers, therefore, took on intensive rehabilitation of the roadways to reopen the main supply routes between the two towns and Malakal. The objective was to improve conditions for local communities living in the area and enable humanitarian assistance to reach them swiftly, as needed.

 “At the outset, it seemed futile to even attempt junction repairs, considering the damage was so bad that in some parts small boats were being used to ferry people across,” recalls Lt. Colonel Ghai. The contingent, however, refused to accept defeat. “We entered into an agreement with local authorities under which they provided us the required construction materials and we provided the labour, machinery and technical expertise. They were very involved and supportive,” he reveals.

The project was complex and required the mission’s engineers to not only repair existing damage but also construct culverts at frequent intervals to arrest future ravages that may occur. “We started work in the middle of March 2020 and I am very proud of the dedication shown by our troops—they worked extra hours and performed punishing physical labour in harsh weather conditions without complaints.  It’s a tribute to their commitment that we were able to declare the route operational on 4 April, though the official launch is yet to happen,” states Lt. Colonel Ghai.

For their part, local authorities in Malakal are grateful to UNMISS. “What the Indian engineers from UNMISS have done is almost a miracle,” says James Agwer Awer, Acting Governor. “This stretch of the road was destroyed in seven different places causing untold suffering for our people. We lost livestock and crops that were planted by the riverbanks. We are very grateful to the mission for its assistance to our communities,” adds Mr. Awer. “We now know that there is a water corridor here and all future construction needs to factor that in. Once the flooding subsides completely, we hope to build a concrete bridge to ensure that community members do not have to go through this experience again,” he continues.

The rainy season in South Sudan, which lasts for almost six months every year, affects remote areas adversely, making road travel near impossible. The country, therefore, is still heavily reliant on air transport, which is prohibitively expensive for most people from local communities.

In addition to road repairs, UNMISS peacekeepers have also built an artificial water channel to facilitate irrigation for farms and created a playing field for young sport enthusiasts in the region.