MALAKAL - PALOICH - MELUT JEMAAM - BUNJ ROAD ASSESSMENT MISSION

Transcription

1 MALAKAL - PALOICH - MELUT JEMAAM - BUNJ ROAD ASSESSMENT MISSION Date(s): 01 July 03 July, 2012 Location(s): Participating Agencies Participant (s) Malakal-Poloich Melut Jemaam-Bunj Logistics Cluster Republic of South Sudan (RoSS), and WFP Ethiopia Venkat Dheeravath (Logistics Cluster), Allan Busiinge (WFP), Robert Gordon (WFP), William Benjamine (IOM), and Thurbit Beil (IOM) Security: Level 3 1 MISSION OBECTIVES 1. Assess, using GPS and SDI-T tools, Malakal Paloich Melut Jemaam Bunj road sections for humanitarian access to Maban County. This assessment aims to ensure that critical access corridors and constraints are identified to support humanitarian providers operating during the current emergency in Upper Nile State. 2. Identify the exact stretches of damaged roads, bridges, and culverts to repair and understand better the access for returnees, refugees, Common Transport Service (CTS) and for all of the humanitarian community. 3. Assess the possibility of using Melut Jemaam/Bunj road corridor from Melut port. 4. Assess the river port capacity at Melut. 2 Brief During the rainy season which lasts from May to December, several key road corridors to and within Upper Nile State in the Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) become severely impeded, limiting access to humanitarian emergency response. Currently, there is an emergency operation taking place in Upper Nile State impacting the lives of over 113 thousand refugees in Upper Nile and dozens of NGO/UN agencies responding. Overall, the key access corridors from Malakal-Melut are in poor condition and need rehabilitation to remain open during the rainy season. Additionally, the Melut to Bunj road is gravel and tarmac for approximately 70 km, however the final 30 km int o Bunj is in very poor condition and will need constant maintenance to support humanitarian cargo movements during the rainy season. The mission team explored the possibility of using Melut Port for shipping. The Melut Port is accessible for small and large boats/barges, during all seasons. The challenge foreseen is the pre-positioning of heavy trucks at the port in order to proceed to Bunj following a three-day period of no rains (the last 30 km of road are currently in very poor condition). Finally, during the last days of the assessment mission the team visited Paloich Airport. 3 Summary of Findings/Recommendations/Observations Malakal to Melut: The assessment team departed Malakal on 01 July to Melut, a driving distance of approxi mately 200 km, with three 4WD vehicles. The journey took eight hours from Malakal to Melut; however during the dry season the same distance takes only three hours of driving (see photos A, B and C). One large truck semi trailer (6x6 Scania) and a DAF truck (4x4) for MSF were traveling on the route from Malakal to Melut with difficulties. IOM also had two trucks (4X4) on the route from Malakal to Melut and both travelled with difficulties. In addition, two buses were travelling along the route and became stuck due to mud on the road path, they proceeded with difficulties after clearing the road (see photos D and E). The road condition has already begun to be impeded and will subsequently deteriorate with increased rains. The traffic flow during the mission was accelerated due to four days of no rain. The road from Nyangar to Atar (approximately 100 km) is in very bad condition and some critical road sections were identified as impassable (see photo F). The Akoka concrete bridge has been constructed, however the connecting access roads (approximately 400 meters on both sides) have not been constructed. The traffic has been moving from below the bridge only, which will close after additional rains. The road stretch between Melut and Atar is also deteriorating with increased rains (see photo M and the map). The first 30 km of road sections from Melut to Bunj (Maban County) is gravel and the following 40 km is asphalted in good condition. Immediately following, the road condition for the next approximately 30 km is in poor condition and will deteriorate with increased rains is difficult for all traffic. The remainder of the road section up to Maban is in good condition and passable for all traffic during all seasons. The road approximately 20km is in rough and bad condition upto Bunj. Organizations are recommended to use trucks of up to 40 mt capacity for use along the Melut to Bunj (Maban County) road stretch is passable for all traffic during all seasons. Page 1 of 6

2 A. Malakal - Akoka Road (in Bad condition) B. Malakal - Akoka Road (in Bad condition) C. Malakal - Akoka Road (in Bad condition) D. Truck with difficulties E. Buses struck at before Akoka F. Cars struck before Atar Page 2 of 6

3 Melut Port: There are three port locations used by barge and boat operators for off-loading goods from Malakal and Renk. The first port area is gravel, feasible for usage of barges and boats during all seasons. The other two port locations are not usable during rains as one is inaccessible due to its proximity to a local market and the other is inaccessible during the rains due to an inadequate access road. Melut County Commissioner indicated that the Logistics Cluster and other organisations are permitted to utilise the port for humanitarian operations (see photos F, G, H, I, J). G. Port Site1 location is in good condition F. Port Site1 location is in good condition H. Port Site2 location not usable I. Port Site3 location not usable Page 3 of 6

4 Paloich Airport: The Paloich airport is all weather (asphalt) and can be used for chartered flights. The County Commissioner of Melut advised operators to ask for clearance from relevant Government authorities prior to landing. The Commissioner confirmed his willingness to assist organisations should there be need for use of the airport for humanitarian operations. Recommendations: Jemam refugee settlement is currently estimated to be holding 32,000 refugees. The site is prone to flooding thus pla ns to establish alternate camps (Yusuf Batil 1 and 2) are being discussed. Only s pecialised trucks of 6x6 should be deployed on the route from Malakal to Melut. With deteriorating road conditions from Malakal to Melut, truck payload capacity should be limited to mt and passable only after four dry days, with difficulties. Smaller trucks from Malakal to Melut should not be used. Extension of flight services to Paloich Airport should be explored. The region does not have fuel reserves in either Melut County or Maban County. The assessment mission recommends that fuel stocks be positioned in Melut to serve Maban critical urgent fuel requirements. A transhipment point in Melut should be established with adequate transport capacity to move necessary humanitarian cargo, especially food stocks, to Maban. One Mobile Storage Unit (MSU, 500 mt capacity) belonging to UNHCR is currently located 300 m from the river bank, however it is not accessible by light vehicles (see photos K, L) One additional MSU would be needed for handling storage space requirements in Melut for transit cargo awaiting dry road conditions. Upper Nile based commercial transporters have agreed to deploy trucks from Renk to Melut to provide transport capacity from Melut to Maban County. The WFP Logistics Unit in Juba is deploying 12 6x6 trucks to Melut via Malakal. The trucks will augment transport capacity from Melut to Maban County. Other Findings: Weather: heavy rain was reported during the field mission in Melut on 01 July Water and electricity 24 X 7 were supplied by PetroDAR (oil company). FAR, OXFARM GB, UNMISS, SIM, and IMA are currently operating in Melut. UNMISS ha s one heli copter landing zone within their compound. The assessment mission met with SINO HYDRO Construction Company. Embankment work has been completed included widening and raising the road approximately 345 km from Malakal to Renk. Current operations have been suspended until further notice due to a lack of funds. J. Port Site2 location not feasible K. Port Site3 location not feasible L. UNHCR Rubhall access road M. Akoka Bridge Access road Page 4 of 6

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6 Contacts: Website: General Logistics Cluster, South Sudan Peta Barnes Katherine Ely Jeppe Andersen Venkat Dheeravath Andrew Jackson Mission Participants Logistics Cluster Coordinator Logistics Cluster Information Management Officer Logistics Officer Logistics Cluster GIS Officer Logistics Officer Allan Busiinge Robert Gordon William Benjamine Logistics Officer (WFP RoSS) Logistics Officer (WFP RoSS/Malakal) Logistics Officer (IOM RoSS/Malakal) Page 6 of 6