UNMISS Head Visits Jonglei
The United Nations (UN) Special Representative to South Sudan, Hilde F Johnson has arrived in Bor with the intention to tour Akobo and Pibor counties following recent clashes where more than 100 civilians were killed. 19 February 2013 By Jacob Achiek Jok BOR, 19 February 2013 [Gurtong] – Hilde told the press that her intention was to express her condolences to people who lost their loved ones during the attack in Walgak. She said that she has communicated about humanitarian assistance which is now on the way after the assessment of about 10,000 people. “We clearly would like to see stability in Jonglei state and one of the most key issues is what the mission can do under the current circumstances so that the cycle of violence stops,” she said. She said that they will be visiting Pibor where 158 tukuls were burnt and about 3,000 civilians are being protected at the UN camp. In relation to following up on the Bor peace agreement, she said that “this is an issue that the government should discuss, it is also the issue of government and there Security Council to discuss the issues of David Yau Yau and not the responsibility of UN.” Jonglei state Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk has said that the presence of the UN mission in South Sudan is to assist the government maintain security and that they do not have roads making it difficult for the government to move and meet the people. “We are now using United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) plane to move from place to place assisting us so that we are able to maintain the security situation,” Manyang said. The South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar Teny on Sunday visited the communities affected by the recent clashes in Akobo County and delivered relief to the area. Suspected David Yau Yau’s rebels launched attacks on civilians and the government army leaving 103 people killed. At least 14 SPLA among soldiers protecting the civilians and 17militia were reported dead. The government said SPLA recovered the raided cattle and some of the children abducted and accused the forces to have been backed by Khartoum to destabilize South Sudan. Humanitarian aid agencies had late last year warned of an increased humanitarian situation and tribal clashes and militia attacks midst the dry season and called for intensified efforts to avert the situation. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan last week dispatched a team to investigate the killings. “The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has received information from local officials from Walgak in west Akobo that an attack took place on Friday, 8 February, in the Manitor area,” Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told journalists at a briefing in New York. The investigative team, which includes UN personnel and officials from the Government of South Sudan, will “investigate, obtain accurate information, assess the needs of the affected population and determine what is required by the South Sudanese authorities to address the situation,” the spokesperson added. As part of its mandated role in the country, UNMISS investigates allegations of human rights abuses and supports efforts to protect civilians. The Mission has been active in consolidating peace and security, and helping to establish conditions for development in the world’s newest country since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011. Posted in: Home, Governance, Humanitarian -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
