Bahr Elghazal witnesses wide scale demining operations
By Mayen Deng
May 5, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Aweil region of North Bahr-al-Ghazal state has witnessed the greatest mine action operation since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005.
A high-level federal delegation participated in the North Bahr-al-Ghazal celebration of this important project which strengthens the opportunities of national unity by reactivating the rail line linking North and south after protracted cessation period due to the war.
The Minister of State for Humanitarian affairs described the project as an important national scheme that targets the Balanoosa-Aweil-Wau rail line, covering a distance of 446 km from Babanoosa to Wau, 228 km from Babanoosa to Miram with only 31 km remaining of the first phase.
The minister indicated that the landmine removal operations will allow rehabilitation of the railway and bring it back to its normal condition. The operation itself, he said, represents a unique experience in which the armed forces, the SPLA and the joint forces join efforts to finalize this task with pure Sudanese expertise inspired by all the international experience and human heritage in the field of removing mines.
The Governor of Ariat District, Ngong Deng Guom, said that citizens have expressed their satisfaction with the project, maintaining that it will have a considerable impact on their lives a well as aid in the development process and scaling down prices of commodities in the state’s markets.
(ST)