200 vehicles stranded on key South Sudan road

The United Nations says that about 200 vehicles are stranded on a key road in Lakes State of South Sudan owing to poor road conditions. This obstructs the delivery of humanitarian supplies to northwestern areas of the country.

The United Nations says that about 200 vehicles are stranded on a key road in Lakes State of South Sudan owing to poor road conditions. This obstructs the delivery of humanitarian supplies to northwestern areas of the country.

“Assessments on the Rumbek-Wulu road showed some 200 trucks and light vehicles stranded there,” the UN humanitarian coordination agency reported on Friday.

The UN reported that the Mvolo Culvert on the Juba-Rumbek route was washed away which has resulted in a significant increase in travel time from Juba to Rumbek.

“Given the criticality of this supply route, an engineering team was sent to assess the situation and working on developing a plan for the way forward,” the agency said in an update.  

A map published by the Logistics Cluster on 15 August advised that it would take vehicles four to five days to cross the Mvolo Culvert area. According to the map, sandbags and timber are needed in order for vehicles to cross.

Meanwhile, in the northeast of the country several humanitarian barges arrived at Malakal on 19 August and are now continuing to Melut, for final offloading.

File photo: Vehicles stranded in Lakes State, August 2014 (UNMISS)

Related:

Key road in Lakes State repaired by government, UN (8 Aug.)