South sudan
Report By Mr Shyamal Pratik (Special Correspondent Bihar Jharkhand
When the Road Was Nearly Impassable, Indian Peacekeepers Kept Going
South sudan-A four-day patrol in South Sudan’s Jonglei State brought medical support, repaired pathways and a message of solidarity to isolated communities in Lokarmach.
Heavy rain had made the roads difficult to cross. For communities in Lokarmach, Jonglei State, even reaching essential services could be a challenge. Yet the difficult journey did not stop Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
During a four-day patrol, they reached the isolated communities alongside Military Liaison Officers and UN Police (UNPOL). They brought medical support, repaired key pathways used by residents and listened to people’s concerns.
Each part of the patrol mattered. Medical support helped address immediate needs. Repaired pathways could make everyday movement easier. And by listening, the peacekeepers gave residents the chance to share what was affecting their lives.
Peacekeeping is often measured by the dangers averted and the conflicts contained. But its meaning is also found in quieter moments: a community reached despite the rain, a route made usable again, a concern heard with patience.
For the people of Lokarmach, the patrol carried a simple but powerful message: distance and difficult conditions would not make them invisible. The peacekeepers had come not only to reach the community, but to stand alongside it.
The four-day journey was a reminder that service is not always easy or visible. Sometimes it means continuing along roads almost impossible to cross, so that help, reassurance and human connection can reach those who need them.
In Lokarmach, Indian peacekeepers turned perseverance into care—and a difficult road into a path towards greater trust.
