The Nyamlel Bridge in Aweil West County of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State was officially launched on Wednesday. The project was funded by the European Union (EU).

Speaking at the event in the Nyamlel area, the National Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijok Mijak, said, "The bridge and feeder road will link local communities across the river and connect the country to Sudan. This will improve access to basic services, connect farmers to markets, facilitate domestic and cross-border trade, and promote social cohesion."

UNOPS Multi-Country Office Director and Representative to the AU, Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, in the welcoming remark, said: "I would like to express my deep appreciation to the EU and the government of South Sudan for selecting UNOPS as a 'development partner of choice' in the implementation of this project.

 "This project not only aims to improve rural livelihoods by enabling sustainable access to farms and agricultural markets but also aims to strengthen the State Ministry of Roads and Bridges' capacity to organize and carry out feeder road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance," Ms Worknesh added.

According to the World Bank, South Sudan is still experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis where  80 percent of the population is facing food insecurity while 7 out of 10 people are living in extreme poverty.

The majority of people in South Sudan depend on subsistence farming. However, farmers are unable to reach markets or travel very far outside of their towns for a large portion of the year. To get to the nearest border with Sudan in the dry season, vehicles move across the Lol River or take the 60 km longer Mayom Adhal-Mayen Ulem-Wedweil feeder road. In the rainy season, some drivers cross the full or flooded river in an effort to save time, putting their lives and their vehicles at risk.

For his part, John Garang Deng, Makem Payam Administrator, said: "Last year the entire area was flooded and we were unable to access essential services in Aweil and other areas. Since the routes leading to Aweil were impassable due to poor road conditions, we were completely cut off. Once the construction of Nyamlel Bridge is completed, we will have better access to goods and services. "

The EU Ambassador to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen, said: "The Nyamlel Bridge will reduce the travel distance between Nyamlel and Gok Machar by 120 km. It will be a tangible and valuable asset for local communities, providing easier, faster and more reliable access to services and markets. In addition, the bridge and roads will facilitate access for humanitarian and development partners, government and private sector actors to previously hard-to-reach areas, while providing a lifeline for communities affected by flooding and other difficulties."

He added, "We are very proud of the impact that the bridge and the roads being built under this project will have on the livelihoods and well-being of the beneficiary communities. We remain committed to supporting vulnerable South Sudanese communities on their path to development and continue to develop our partnership with UNOPS and with the national and state government."