Demining of Renk Juba road to begin on Saturday

April 10, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The demining of Peace Road, 987km, linking Renk, Malakal and Juba will begin on Saturday April 12.

Colonel al-Awad al-Bashir, the Director National Center for Mines, said in press statement in Khartoum on Thursday that the first phase aims at cleaning 140 kilometers between Malakal and Ayod.

He explained that working groups are composed of engineers from the Sudan Armed Forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Joint Integrated Units that have received training in the International Mine Action Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said the task forces have arrived to Malakal and completed all preparations related to the tools work, fuel, oil and spare parts for vehicles and equipments. The works will take for more than 38 days as it set in a plan of action to end the demining before the autumn.

He stressed the importance of the strategic road that links the north and south which has been exhausted since in 1986 and that the road could contribute to voluntary repatriation and the flow of business.

(ST)