The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has handed over a new building to the main prison in Mundri West of Western Equatoria State over the weekend.

The construction was facilitated by the Rural Development Action Aid (RDAA) and funded by the UNMISS through Quick Impact Project three months ago.

Speaking during the handover ceremony UNMISS state representative in Mundri base, Mr. Tahiru Ibrahim, said the construction was prompted by a visit to the prison in which they found inmates kept under trees in deplorable conditions.

He urged the prison authorities to use the newly constructed building to keep inmates safe and called for people to have peace among the people of Western Equatoria State. 

“This is not supposed to be a torture place but it is supposed to be a correctional facility that will allow us to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who offend the law back to society so that they become useful and functional members of society," Ibrahim said. " I would like to read and dedicate our commitment as UNMISS to support the people of the Republic of South Sudan in ensuring that peace and stability return to South Sudan soon rather than later to allow the population to enjoy the dividends of peace." 

Maj. Gen. James Dut Galual the Director of Prison Service in Western Equatoria State appreciated UNMISS for constructing the prison.

He said, "My people if someone does something wrong he or she should be detained there. Before it was not a prison, but now if someone is imprison here the family will know that their person is well kept, though there are no beds and bedsheets, we will use what we have locally here until we get them later."

Meanwhile, the state minister of local government Elia Richard Box urged the prisons authorities in Mundri to maintain the building so that it serves the community.