Revitalizing Yambio: A Community’s Clean-Up Initiative
A Vibrant Marketplace
Yambio is alive with activity. The local market serves as a vibrant hub where merchants enthusiastically promote their goods, neighbors engage in lively conversations, and music fills the air from roadside tea shops. Children can be seen laughing and playing among the bustling crowd, painting a picture of communal harmony.
However, beneath this lively façade, the market faces a significant challenge. A growing pile of garbage threatens to overshadow its vibrancy. Streets are cluttered with plastic bottles, bags, spoiled food, old cans, discarded tires, and rusted bicycles, turning this lively area into an unsightly—and unsafe—environment.
Addressing a Pressing Issue
As the world approached World Environment Day, peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) partnered with local residents to confront this mounting waste problem. Armed with gloves and determination, volunteers dedicated themselves to collecting litter, creating sizeable piles that would later be cleared away by UNMISS bulldozers for responsible disposal.
“Our journey towards peace begins with establishing clean environments,” stated Rotto Anibiapai Enock, the Azande Kingdom Minister of Culture. “Everyone must take personal responsibility to foster clean surroundings that create healthy relationships, both within families and communities, and ultimately, across the entire nation.”
Health Hazards and Environmental Concerns
The accumulation of waste has led to significant public health risks. Poor sanitation and hygiene conditions are particularly pressing in light of ongoing cholera outbreaks in the region. Additionally, the trash-clogged drains heighten the risk of severe flooding during the rainy season, further exacerbating the dire situation.
Mayor Singira Robert of Yambio municipality emphasized the project’s importance, expressing that local leaders and community members wish to transform this clean-up effort into a lasting habit. “This initiative presents an opportunity to establish a culture of cleanliness that endures,” he remarked.
Uniting Diverse Communities
The clean-up initiative transcends mere sanitation; it serves as a beacon of unity among various communities, many of which have had their share of tensions and conflict. By pursuing a collective goal, residents are re-establishing Yambio’s reputation as the ‘breadbasket’ of South Sudan, a region known for its fertile climate and agricultural potential.
For peacekeepers, the initiative also played a role in building trust within the community. “This exercise was vital not only for helping residents manage the hazards of poor sanitation but also for strengthening our connections with the local population,” noted Emmanuel Dukundane, a UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer. “We are committed to supporting the people of Western Equatoria in sustaining these efforts moving forward.”
Conclusion
The clean-up effort in Yambio showcases the power of community action in addressing pressing environmental and health challenges. Through collaboration and shared purpose, residents and peacekeepers are not just tidying their streets; they are laying the groundwork for a cleaner, healthier, and more united future.
