The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday launched the rehabilitation of a nine-Kilometer feeder road in Yambio Town of Western Equatoria State.
The repair of the feeder road is a part of the Resilience and Recovery project initiated by UNMISS in South Sudan.
Speaking at the launch, the head of the UNMISS Office in Yambio Christopher Murenga said this is a pilot project to improve road networks.
“This is launching of a small project to help some part of the town. UNMISS being partners and a member of the communities here in Yambio of course as a user of the road we feel like a part of the community we should improve the environment where we live," Murenga said. "Now we have an approval of 9km rehabilitation of feeder road. We look for more partners and other people to join us so that all the town roads are rehabilitated.”
Murenga said the feeder road will not only serve the residents of Yambio town but also will improve market access for farm produce.
“Western Equatoria being an agricultural state it is very important that we get these farm products to the market we rehabilitated not just for the access of the citizens but as part of the economic development of the state. Western Equatoria state is the breadbasket for South Sudan," he added.
Meanwhile the Governor of Western Equatoria State Lt. Gen Alfred Futuyo Karaba appealed to UNMISS to extend the rehabilitation to all bad roads in the town.
Wilson Ragoyo, a trader in Yambio expressed happiness saying once the rehabilitation is over he can transport his goods with ease.
"Today we are happy for the rehabilitation of the road. For us as traders, if the road is poor people will not reach the market on time. If this continues till Tambura, Mvolo, and Mundri we will be happy to see that roads are rehabilitated in the Payam. Secondly, we also need electricity so that everything can be run well in the market,” he added.
A bodaboda rider in Yambio Town, Joseph Wilson said, “I am very happy because our road is being rehabilitated. It has been very hard for us to transport customers especially when he or she is sick and you cannot reach on time due to poor roads."
The repair is expected to be completed in a month.