The United Nations Mission in South Sudan or UNMISS welcomed the temporary and the first deployment of a British Royal Air Force C-130 aircraft in Africa to South Sudan.
UNMISS in a statement said the aircraft which arrived in Juba on Saturday would conduct daily flights to Malakal, Upper Nile State for the delivery of vital supplies and vehicles to its base and protection of civilians’ site.
The operation which is expected to last until mid-April, is projected to double the C-130 air-lift capacity of UNMISS to Malakal with the impending rainy season where 60 percent of the roads in South Sudan would be impassable.
The operation is supported by a small British military team based in Entebbe Uganda, with forward elements deployed to Juba and Malakal.
United Kingdom also deployed a technical team of twelve military engineers last year to help map out and design the expansion and improvement of the UN base and protection of civilians sites in Malakal.
The number of internally displaced civilians seeking protection in UN compounds rose to 112,000, with 21,000 in Malakal.