By Hou Akot Hou
Communities bordering Sudan have expressed relief following the reopening of Nyamlel Bridge which had been under renovation for the past two years in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.
Dut Garang, is one of the local farmers in Jaac area near River Kiir who on Friday told Juba Echo, that the renovated bridge will ease transportation of his produce to Aweil town.
He said in the past his produce was rotting in the farm due to the breakdown of Nyamlel bridge- a key lifeline linking Jaac to Aweil town.
“In the highland locally known as Gok-nhom, we produce crops such as groundnuts. At times, we sell them to the Arabs who border us, and now that the bridge is complete we will be coming straight to Aweil town,” he said.
The bridge which was renovated by Africa Resource Corporation (ARC) was reopened this week by the Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Tong Aken Ngor.
William Anyuon Akuol, the State Minister of Information, said the bridge will connect local communities with other neighboring countries like Sudan.
“Ayat Company left this bridge incomplete for years but it is now completed. The government of South Sudan has a plan to be connected with the neighboring countries such as Sudan and beyond like Libya,” he said.
Akuol added that sick and vulnerable people like pregnant women will find it easy to reach the only referral Aweil civil hospital.
“Pregnant and lactating mothers from Aweil West and North Counties have been finding it extremely difficult to access Aweil civil hospital on time,” he disclosed.
