The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has donated $400,000 for construction of a prison at Nyamlel, Aweil West County headquarters, an official has said.

There has been concerns from officials that state prison facilities are in bad shape and often congested.

County commissioner Garang Kuac Ariath said the construction has started. A committee, which he will lead, has been set up to monitor the work.

“I want people to understand what a prison means. Some people take it as a bad thing. A prison should be good like a house, only the prisoners are not going to walk around,” said Mr Ariath.

Kuac says the prison will help the community across the County when it is competed.

He hopes that the work will be finished within two months, according to the work plan, as most of the builders are prisoners.