South Sudan expels UN humanitarian coordinator ArticleComments (5)EmailPrintSave
June 1, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon has condemned South Sudan’s decision to expel its humanitarian coordinator in the country. United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, talking to the media during a press conference on August 28, 2014 in Juba (AFP/Samir Bol) Toby Lanzer, the Ki moon said, has been instrumental in addressing the increasing humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities in the country, and ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable.“This has been necessary because of continuing violence by both parties in the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement,” the secretary-general said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune. South Sudan’s ongoing conflict began in December 2013 and has been marked by brutal violence against civilians and deepening suffering across the country. Some 119,000 people are sheltered in UN compounds across the country, the world body said.In recent weeks, however, the fighting in the country has worsened considerably with reports of widespread killings, rapes, abductions and the burning and destruction of towns and villages, particularly throughout South Sudan’s Unity and Upper Nile states. The UN chief, however, called on South Sudan government to reverse its decision immediately, further urging it to fully cooperate with all UN entities in the country. South Sudansese officials are yet to publicly comment on the senior UN envoy’s expulsion.Lanzer, who also doubled as the deputy special representative of the UN secretary general, was due to end of his term in South Sudan before leaving for the Sahel region. The secretary general has appointed Ghana’s Eugene Owusu as Lanzer’s successor.SIMILAR EXPULSIONIn November 2014, South Sudan expelled a UN official who carried out investigations into the human rights situation in the country. The expulsion was reportedly linked to a report published in August, accusing the army of torture, rapes, killings and abduction. The UN condemned the decision, which is said violated South Sudan’s legal obligations.In recent years, however, domestic and international human rights bodies have accused the South Sudanese army of gross human rights violations, allegations military officials have dismissed. (ST) -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- 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]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oqGpvjY7r0_3J1-LcX9%2Bpszd6R1bSf4C7-snVERh2hSmA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
