In Yabus, a village situated in southern Sudan, a flooded river used to divide the community for up to six months each year. The marketplace, clinic, airstrip, primary school, and roads to the northern part of Sudan are all located on the north side of the river and the south side is home to BELC (Basic Education Learning Centers), the secondary school, farmland, and roads to the southern region of the country.

The yearly flood used to leave people without access to food, medical care, or education. Now all of that has changed for the more than 60,000 people living in the region. The Yabus Unity Bridge is officially "open" and was dedicated on Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Enjoy this slideshow of the progress and celebration of the Yabus Unity Bridge.

To view captions, click on the slideshow, and then scroll your mouse over the photos.

For an in-depth look at how the bridge was built please visit yabusbridge.blogspot.com