Two stories from Ugandan newspapers:
About 60,000 Sudanese refugees in West Nile now have hope after UNHCR started constructing a bridge to ease their repatriation exercise. During the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday at River Enyau, the Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Refugees, Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere, said [that] the bridge would enable easy repatriation and cut costs of transportation of goods and services to Sudan.
"I was hurt when some people drowned in the river due to the lack of a bridge and better roads. With the construction, the bridge will no longer be a barrier for our refugees," Prof Kabwegyere said.
Early this year, 32 people drowned as they attempted to cross River Enyau. People have been crossing the river on empty jerrycans. UNHCR has been assisting some 18,000 Sudanese refugees.
Prof Kabwegyere said [that] the bridge would substantially improve the economy of West Nile region. The construction, under the Development Assistance for Refugees hosting areas (DAR) is to be completed by [the] end of March [of] next year.
The disaster-preparedness minister last Thursday commissioned the construction of a bridge across River Enyau in Maracha/Terego district.
Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said [that] the Danish Government[-] and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-funded project would improve accessibility between Rhino Camp and Imvepi settlements, and [would] facilitate the on-going refugee-repatriation programme.
He said [that] there were 59,364 refugees, [the] majority of them Sudanese, hosted in Arua and Yumbe districts who were returning home after 20 years under the voluntary repatriation programme of UNHCR.
“It will reduce travel time and costs for communities, humanitarian workers, and service providers on operations between Rhino Camp, Imvepi, and Madi-Okollo refugee settlements.”
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at Likido village, the Odupi sub-county chairman, Augustine Vuni, said [that] the bridge would help the locals who had been crossing the river using remote means.
He said [that] the passengers and luggage were carried on floaters curved out of empty jerrycans and logs, and controlled by swimmers. The swimmers charge sh1,000 [i.e., 1,000 Ugandan shillings] to take a person across the river.
Vuni revealed that at least 32 people had drowned while crossing the river in the past six years. A number of livestock had also perished in the same way, he added.
Arua district chairman Richard Andama Ferua thanked the Government for the project that, he said, they began appealing for in 1995.
Transport state minister Simon Ejua said [that] the sh1.4b [i.e., 1.4-billion-shilling] project, to be undertaken by Dotts Services, would be completed in the next six months.
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