By Alan Clement
The Governor of Unity State, Justice Riek Bim Top, oversaw the official launch of a 17.7-kilometre dyke extension project South of Bentiu Town.
According to the statement obtained from governor’s press unit, the government and the partners launched the initiative on this week.
The initiative, backed by the World Bank and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is intended to reclaim over 42 square kilometres of submerged land and protect communities from persistent flooding.
The dyke, stretching to the Thowmangor suburbs from Kuerbuone through Nhial Diu Road, and Panhiany-Dhorbor is expected to safeguard critical infrastructure and support the expansion of Bentiu town for community use.
“This dyke is a step towards mitigating flooding and reclaiming important government infrastructure, such as schools and institutional buildings submerged for the last five years, including the Bentiu prison,” Governor Bim said during the launch adding that together with the partners, the state will continue to reclaim land in Bentiu.
Project engineer Tombe Anthony Jadalla who provided technical insights on the dyke extension stated that, “The project will protect valuable infrastructure and accommodate about 150,000 households once completed.”
He confirmed that engineers have so far covered 15 kilometres of the 17.7 kilometres dyke seemingly indicating that work began on the extension of the dyke before the official launch on August 12th, 2025.
The dyke is part of a broader flood resilience strategy in Unity State, which has faced recurrent flooding over the past five years, displacing thousands of households and livestock and submerging key public institutions.
The governor applauded the continuous collaborative efforts between the state government, donors, and implementing agencies, in restoring hope and aiding the recovery of the people of Bentiu town.
He was joined by state government advisors, ministers, representatives from the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Bentiu Town Mayor, and officials from humanitarian partner organizations during the launch of the extension project.