New Delhi: Even as all eyes are on the raging conflict in West Asia, Indian troops, posted as peacekeepers in South Sudan have pulled off a major achievement by re-opening a vital supply route that was impacted by floods last year.
The United Nations has lauded this effort by the Indian peacekeepers, emphasising the “vital role” it (the supply route) played in supporting stability and enabling assistance to vulnerable civilians.
The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) was established following a UN Security Council resolution in July 2011 to consolidate peace and security and to help establish conditions for development in the then newly-born country, as reported by PTI.
India is the top troop contributing country to the UNMISS with 1,779 personnel deployed with the peacekeeping mission, as of January 2026.
“… in South Sudan, amid these difficult times, there are some hopeful developments,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said.
“Our Peacekeeping Mission there (UNMISS) reports that in Upper Nile State, Indian peacekeepers from the Engineering Unit have successfully reopened a key section
of the Malakal–Renk main supply route, which had been closed since last year’s floods,” he added.
The new alignment, which entailed reclaiming land from floodwaters to restore the road, will provide safer access, significantly improving mobility in the area and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need in local communities, he said.
“These efforts also underscore the vital role that the Peacekeeping Mission plays in supporting stability and enabling critical assistance to reach vulnerable civilians in some of the most challenging environments,” Dujarric said.
The Indian peacekeepers reopened the key Malakal-Renk main supply route via New Paloich, which had been closed since last year’s floods, the UNMISS said in a post on X.
A new road alignment through Akoka-Kilo 20-Paloich-Renk now provides safe access, enhancing mobility and humanitarian efforts in the region, the UNMISS noted.
“In partnership with local authorities and @UN partners, #UNMISS Blue Helmets from #India completed a series of outreach activities in Renk, #SouthSudan,” the UNMISS said in another post on X and listed the works done by the Indian peacekeepers. These peacetime works include a veterinary camp in Magera, Geiger and Chemmedi, a medical camp in Geiger, and a training camp on child protection and prevention of gender-based violence.
According to estimates by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, flooding in South Sudan last year had affected 1.35 million people across eight states, displacing nearly 3,75,600 people.