Vietnamese Engineering Team successfully restored a vital bridge in the Abyei area
WVR - Engineering Team No. 4 of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has just completed a mission of profound strategic and humanitarian significance: repairing and restoring the Banton Bridge, Abyei.
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On October 27, the handover ceremony of the Banton Bridge was solemnly held at the site. This is not merely a transportation project but a symbol of connection, hope, and efforts to build peace in this divided land.
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| Vietnamese engineers successfully rescue a vital bridge in the Abyei area: The handover ceremony of the Banton Bridge. (Source: Engineering Team No. 4) |
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking guests from military to civilian sectors: Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Military Staff of the UNISFA mission; Mr. Kuol Deng Rau, Acting Administrative Chief of Abyei; Mr. Kon Maneit Matiok, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services; Mr. Nyang Doldol Nyang, District Chief of Alal.
Sharing at the ceremony, Colonel Alexander De Lima acknowledged the completion of the Banton Bridge repairs in just one week.
He called it a commendable testament to swift and effective work, directly linking infrastructure with security: “Each of these results directly contributes to peace, for when people have opportunities and hope, peace becomes more sustainable.”
The voice from the local government further deepened this meaning when Mr. Kuol Deng Rau, Acting Administrative Chief of Abyei, emphasized this as the result of an international partnership – where challenges have turned into success.
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| Engineering Team No. 4 “overcame sun and rain” to repair the bridge. (Source: Engineering Team No. 4) |
Alal District Chief Nyang Doldol Nyang also saw the bridge as a testament to the United Nations' concern and Vietnam's affection for the Abyei region.
Particularly, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services Kon Maneit Matiok praised the performance, discipline, and admirable work ethic of the Vietnamese blue-helmet soldiers.
The Banton Bridge has long been more than just a road. It is a strategic lifeline, a crucial route directly impacting security, economy, and civilian life in Abyei.
The severe deterioration of the bridge over a long period caused numerous difficulties for UNISFA patrols, disrupted civilian traffic, and hindered humanitarian efforts.
In this context, the task of repairing the Banton Bridge was assigned to Vietnam's Engineering Team No. 4. This was not only a technical and material challenge but also a mission requiring courage, intelligence, and empathy.
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| Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Head of Engineering Team No. 4, presents gifts to local representatives. (Source: Engineering Team No. 4) |
Upon receiving the mission to rescue the bridge, Vietnam's Engineering Team No. 4 immediately set to work. Overcoming challenges in materials, weather, and construction conditions, with technical skills, creativity, and determination, the blue-helmet soldiers miraculously revived the bridge.
Thus, the atmosphere of the ceremony went beyond a typical technical event, becoming a celebration of joy and hope.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong of Engineering Team No. 4 expressed: “As peacekeeping soldiers of the UNISFA mission, our task is not only to help protect peace but also to build it – brick by brick, step by step. Through this bridge, we are proud to contribute sustainably to that noble mission.”
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| Local people joyfully dance on the newly repaired sturdy bridge. (Source: Engineering Team No. 4) |
The significance of the ceremony was elevated further when, during the event, Engineering Team No. 4 organized the distribution of humanitarian gifts. Essential items such as food were handed directly to the residents living near the Banton Bridge.
While the bags of rice and essential goods may not completely solve hunger and poverty, they are the clearest expressions of humanity, the spirit of “the good leaves protect the worn-out ones”, transcending language and cultural barriers.
This is the highlight that underscores the profound role of engineering soldiers in peacekeeping missions – a noble gesture, fully embodying the dual role of “Uncle Ho's soldiers” in international missions: being both skilled “bridge builders” and “ambassadors” of peace and humanity.
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| Local people wearing red flag with yellow star shirts at the Banton Bridge handover ceremony. (Source: Engineering Team No. 4) |
The image of local people joyfully dancing beside the newly sturdy bridge has become a symbolic moment of military-civilian unity.
A local resident happily said: “Seeing the bridge sturdy and more spacious than before makes us very happy. From now on, traveling will be less difficult, and the children can go to school with more peace of mind.”
From now on, the Banton Bridge not only holds strategic value, ensuring security for the mission, but also serves as a humanitarian lifeline, a path of hope, dialogue, and trust that Vietnamese blue-helmet soldiers have painstakingly built in this African land.
