By Baraka John
The Director of Civil Defense in Western Equatoria State, Brigadier General Henry Malesh Luiz, has threatened to withdraw fire safety officers from Yambio Airstrip within five days unless authorities address what he describes as serious safety and welfare concerns.
Brig. Gen. Luiz made the remarks during a meeting with aviation managers in Yambio on Thursday, where he raised concerns over the lack of transport and firefighting equipment at the airstrip.
He said the absence of mobility prevents fire safety officers from properly inspecting the runway before aircraft land, potentially putting passengers and aircraft at risk.
According to Luiz, fire safety officers are expected to inspect the runway early each morning to identify possible hazards before flights arrive. However, he said the officers currently have no motorcycle or other means of transport to carry out the inspections effectively.
He also expressed concern over the welfare of the officers, saying they have been working at the airstrip for nearly ten years without adequate support.
Luiz said the officers report for duty at around 6 a.m. and remain at the airstrip until 6 p.m., but receive no food or other basic welfare support.
He further revealed that the airstrip currently has no fire extinguisher available for use in the event of an emergency.
The Civil Defense director said the Director General in the State Ministry of Roads and Bridges has maintained that responsibility for aircraft safety and welfare at the airstrip falls under the Roads and Bridges Ministry, rather than Civil Defense.
Luiz said he has written to the Director General requesting a meeting to resolve the disagreement over responsibilities.
He warned that failure by the Director General to attend the meeting within five days would force him to withdraw his fire safety officers from Yambio Airstrip.
“I have raised this concern several times, but there has been no response,”.The lack of mobility to inspect Yambio Airstrip before planes land poses a risk to the safety of aircraft and passengers and hampers the work of fire safety officers,” Luiz said. “If he fails to turn up within five days, I will withdraw my officers from the airstrip,” Luiz warned.
Meanwhile, John Peter Ginaba, Operational Manager for AERO Jet Aviation at its Yambio branch, applauded the State Civil Defense Service for raising concerns over the current safety situation at the airstrip.
Ginaba said the concerns raised during the meeting are important for improving safety and ensuring the protection of passengers, aircraft and aviation personnel operating at Yambio Airstrip.
“We came in response to the invitation from the Director of State Civil Defense to understand the current safety measures at the airstrip. During the meeting, the Director briefed us on the safety situation at the airstrip. We are now waiting for a resolution, and we have learned a lot from the meeting.”
Efforts to reach the Director General in the State Ministry of Roads and Bridges for comment were unsuccessful.
The development has raised concerns over the preparedness of Yambio Airstrip to respond to potential fire emergencies, particularly amid reported shortages of basic firefighting equipment and logistical support for safety personnel.