Twic East commissioner criticises UNMISS

September 3, 2013 (BOR) – Twic East commissioner Dau Akoi has criticised the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) over its decision not to send peace keepers to protect civilians in the county.

“We really condemn UNMISS for taking that decision because Twic East county is also threatened. Up to now there is a presence of armed men in our county”, Akoi told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, shortly after a meeting with non-government organisations (NGOs) operating in the region.

According to Akoi, UNMISS announced last week that Jonglei state’s Twic East county was not among the areas where UN peace keeping troops would be deployed to protect civilians.

The commissioner says that he has been forced to suspend communal activities due to security concerns in order to allow the youth to remain focused on protecting their communities.

The last time an attack occurred in Twic East, seven people were killed in Alelei, while five others were injured. As a result, about 15,000 people from Alelei were forced to flee to Maar for safety. The commissioner had previously urged UNMISS to deploy peace keepers in the county to protect vulnerable civilians.

Akoi also warned that there is a risk of famine breaking out in the country this year due to heavy rains which washed away crops in Lith, Kongoor and Nyuak payams [districts].

In his meeting with NGOs, the commissioner stressed there was also an urgent need for a bank to be located in the county. Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Equity Bank, which already have branches in Bor, are currently being lobbied to open branches in Twic East.

(ST)