Why are British soldiers mixing concrete at night in Africa?
Operation TRENTON is the UK commitment to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with the deployment of 300 troops it is the largest UK peacekeeping mission since Bosnia.
Beginning in 2016, British Soldiers have deployed to South Sudan to provide vital infrastructure support to the UN Peacekeeping effort.
Dubbed the UK Engineer Task Force, British troops are split between the ‘Protection of Civilians’ sites at Bentiu, and Malakal. Accommodating over 100,000 internally displaced persons who have fled years of violence, the civilians rely on UN peacekeepers for their safety and to meet their humanitarian needs.
One of the most significant infrastructure projects the engineers have completed is the construction of the Level Two Hospital in Bentiu. Akin to an Accident and Emergency department in the UK, it’s able to treat a range of conditions.
Whilst the hospital is primarily for UN personnel, by improving the quality of medical facilities it has enhanced the UN’s ability to push further out into remote parts of the country, with more civilians benefiting from increased security.
Having completed one hospital in Bentiu, the engineers are now well into the construction of a second, this time in Malakal. Despite the wet season bringing increased challenges on movement and resources, the engineers have persevered to ensure they continue making progress. With the temperature exceeding 40c, much of the concreting takes place at night to prevent it from cracking as it sets.
”Working in this climate makes construction extremely challenging and we have experienced intense periods of rain as well as high temperatures. The heat accelerates fatigue but also affects some of the construction materials that we are using. We have had to adapt to find different ways of working.
Concreting at night being a prime example, it is the only way to ensure the concrete does not cure too rapidly and develops its desired strength and durability”
Capt A Bartlett, Malakal Engineer Group Second-in-Command.
Constructing the hospital is a complex task requiring a range of skills and specialist trades. From the surveyors and designers who draw up the plans, to the electricians, brick layers, plumbers and carpenters who bring those plans into reality, it is a whole team effort.
Due for completion in early 2020, the hospital is the final major infrastructure project the UK Task Force will complete prior to the end of the UK mission in March next year.
Having completed nearly four years in South Sudan, UK troops will then be redeploying to Mali as they continue to support UN peacekeeping operations around the globe.
