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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / YEI ROAD PROJECT
TRT: 02:52
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 01 SEPTEMBER 2025, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
11 NOVEMBER 2020, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, cars passing through muddy road
01 SEPTEMBER 2025, YEI, SOUTH SUDAN
2. Various shots, UNMISS engineers working
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Major Md. Zohirul Kaium, UNMISS:
“It rains about every day, so the weather is the main challenge for us to continue the work without interruptions. Another challenge is the quality of the murram. For collecting the good quality of murram we have to go far.”
4. Various shots, UNMISS engineers working
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Justin Lawuya Nimaya, Chief in Gimunu, Yei River County:
“[Good] roads are very important. If someone is sick, they can easily be taken to hospital, when a woman is about to deliver, she can be driven there. We also need this road to be rehabilitated to bring us peace.”
6. Various shots, UNMISS engineering team working
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Emmanuel Taban Seme, Commissioner, Yei River County:
“When there is a road access to the remote areas, first of all we will deliver services to the civilians, to the areas where they are living, and this will show them that, yes, there is hope.” “Roads have an impact, a direct impact in the peace process, because when we are connected, it means that we live as one community. But if there is a gap, it means we will be scattered.”
8. Various shots, UNMISS engineers working
Many roads in South Sudan become virtually impassable during the rainy season, posing major challenges for traders, service providers and others who still must use them.
One of the country’s most critical supply routes is the road between Yei, near the borders with Western Equatoria State, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and the capital Juba.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is doing its part to assist, with some of its engineering troops having recently begun the rehabilitation of the 11-kilometer-long Yei airstrip road.
Major Md. Zohirul Kaium with UNMISS, said, “It rains about every day, so the weather is the main challenge for us to continue work without interruptions. Another challenge is the quality of the murram. For collecting the good quality of murram we have to go far.”
To further complicate matters, the engineers will have to fix the road leading to where the necessary material is fetched before the airstrip road can be repaired.
Local leaders are convinced that their efforts will greatly benefit residents, not only by strengthening security, improving economic growth and making access for humanitarian aid easier.
Justin Lawuya Nimaya, Chief in Gimunu, Yei River County, said, “[Good] roads are very important. If someone is sick, they can easily be taken to hospital, when a woman is about to deliver, she can be driven there. We also need this road to be rehabilitated to bring us peace.”
Nimaya and others living in the county view the road repair work, a joint venture undertaken by government institutions, international organizations and community leaders, as a symbol of effective partnerships for a brighter future.
Providing the UNMISS engineers with murram is a key contribution of the office of the Yei River County Commissioner.
While the Commissioner appreciates the logistical benefits of good roads, he primarily considers them essential for an even greater good: peace.
Emmanuel Taban Seme, Commissioner of Yei River County, said, “When there is a road access to the remote areas, first of all we will deliver services to the civilians, to the areas where they are living, and this will show them that, yes, there is hope.”
He also added, “Roads have an impact, a direct impact in the peace process, because when we are connected, it means that we live as one community. But if there is a gap, it means we will be scattered.”
The improved airstrip road is set to be completed by the end of September.
