UNITED NATIONS, Oct 13 (APP):Pakistani army engineers, serving the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), helped save the city of Bentiu from being submerged by flood waters as they rapidly constructed dykes to divert the flow of water away from the Unity state’s capital, according to a report received here.<\/p>\n
Braving swampy soil and snake-infested waters, the engineers completed more than 4 kilometers of dykes in record time following an urgent request for help to UNMISS from the Acting State Governor, Joseph Montyuil, it said.<\/p>\n
Engineers from Pakistan, according to the report, were quick to act, moving heavy equipment to sites, which were most threatened, and rapidly constructing dykes to save the flood-hit city.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minute we received information from the Field Office that communities need our urgent intervention, we swung into action,\u201d Lieutenant-Colonel Hameed Akbar, Commanding Officer of the Pakistan Military Engineers Task Force, said in statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime was of essence and so we speedily relocated essential equipment from other projects to intervene in Bentiu,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cThe speedy assistance given by UNMISS peacekeepers really saved us from calamity,\u201d Franco Duoth, Chairperson of the Disaster Management Committee, said. \t\u201cThe volume of water approaching Bentiu was huge and left unchecked, the town and surrounding areas would have been completely submerged causing untold misery and displacement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Acting Governor Montyuil agreed. \u201cWithout UNMISS\u2019 timely intervention, we would have faced a crisis like no other. The prompt action from Pakistani engineers, including pumping out water from homes and buildings which were already flooded, has saved Bentiu communities from much despair,\u201d stated the Acting Governor.<\/p>\n
Captain Yawar Abbas, the project leader, said, \u201cThe currents were massively strong and it was challenging for our engineers to complete these dykes, though we are trained for such emergencies.
\n\u201cHowever, we are glad that we managed to help stop what could have been a major protection and humanitarian emergency here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commanding Officer Akbar added, \u201cThis is exactly why we deploy to UN Peacekeeping\u2014to help people who need us the most. We feel honoured that we have been of assistance and contributed towards the UNMISS mandate.\u201d
\nWhile the imminent threat to Bentiu has been mitigated, the overall dangers of flooding remain, the report said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe volume of water in Unity state is so high that it may take years to recede fully,\u201d warns Duoth. \u201cWater levels are still rising, and we need support from the national government to mitigate this crisis,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 13 (APP):Pakistani army engineers, serving the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), helped save the city of Bentiu from being submerged by flood waters as they rapidly constructed dykes to divert the flow of water away from the Unity state’s capital, according […]<\/p>\n
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