By Matik Kueth
Residents of Leer town and Adok Payam in Leer County, Unity State, are celebrating the long-awaited completion of a newly constructed murram road that now connects the town to Adok Port.
This vital infrastructure project is a significant milestone for a region that has faced years of isolation due to persistent seasonal flooding since July 2020.
Mr. Diang Ruot, a resident of Leer, expressed his relief at the road’s completion, stressing that it will be essential for good transportation.
“The reconstruction of the road between Adok and Leer Town has made it possible to transport essential goods and commodities from Adok Port to Leer. For five years, floods had cut off our access, making life incredibly difficult,” he said.
The new road, which stretches through Mayiendit County and into Mirmir Payam in Koch County, is already transforming transportation during the current rainy season.
Communities in Leer, Mayiendit, and Koch Counties now have better access to markets and services.
Nyaluak Nyang, an Adok Port local, emphasized the road’s positive impact, stating that it will be accessible to vehicles and allow items to be moved to other locations.
“This road start in February and it is very important to us. Now we can easily travel to Adok port . It reminds us of how accessible things were back in 2008,” she said.
“We’re hopeful that prices will come down now that goods can reach us more easily from Juba. Before the conflict, we relied solely on the River Nile to transport commodities,” she stressed.
The road project, funded by the World Food Programme (WFP), is viewed as a beacon of hope for flood-affected communities after years of isolation, locals are confident that new infrastructure would strengthen local businesses, lower living costs, and reconnect families and communities.
Meanwhile, Riek Biel, Mayendit’s County Director, remarked that the initiative puts services closer to residents.
“The company was started the reconstruction of road since February up to this June for 35 km from Adok Port to Mirmir Payam in Koch County,” he said.
He confirmed that the road reconstruction, which began in February, now covers a 35-kilometer stretch from Adok Port to Mirmir Payam, with work carried out by a universal construction company from Ethiopia.
“It serves not only Leer but also the neighboring counties of Mayiendit and Koch. We thank WFP for supporting this vital initiative,” he noted.