NA engineers construct roads in Congo

In late August, the Nepali military engineering company based in Bunia completed the construction of the Fataki-Mahagi road in the territory of Djugu, the United Nations said.

The work was part of the UN effort to help stabilize the volatile Ituri District in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

"The Fataki-Mahagi axis is of strategic importance for the stabilization of Ituri. This is due to its economic value and logistics role," said the commander of the Nepali Engineering Company, Major B Prabin Khadka.

The rehabilitated road will not only help boost the local economy, it will also help the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) better carry out its military patrols and connect its mobile operating bases which help provide security to vulnerable Congolese civilians, the statement reads.

Two successive rotations of Nepali engineers were responsible for completing the 90 kilometers of road work. The first part, the Mahagi-Kwandroma stretch, was rehabilitated from December 2007 to June 2008. The new company finished the remaining 20 kilometers to Fataki.

Also this year, the Nepali engineers have rehabilitated the road connecting Iga Barriere-Gina-Pimbo and the Aveba-Kamatsi-Tchey road, in addition to the construction of a bridge over the river at Nizi Lalo. Soon, the Nepali engineers will rehabilitate the roads connecting Bunia-Iga-Barriere and Bogoro-Aveba. These public works are an integral part of the United Nations support to the Government's strategy for the stabilization and security in eastern Congo. nepalnews.com ia Sep 04 08