UNSC, US condemn S. Sudan’s expulsion of UN relief official
June 3, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has expressed grave concern over the security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan and also condemned the recent expulsion of the UN humanitarian coordinator from the world’s youngest nation.
Last week, South Sudan expelled Toby Lanzer, a Briton, who doubled as the deputy special representative of the UN secretary general.
“They underscored that to make such a determination immediately following the warning by the World Food Programme that South Sudan is facing the worst levels of food insecurity in the young country’s history because of a combination of conflict, high food prices and a worsening economic crisis, shows a disregard for the plight of the South Sudanese people,” the council said Wednesday.
According the 15-mmber council, since the beginning of the year, some 60,000 civilians have fled the country, mostly to Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda bringing to 555,000 the total number of people who have fled South Sudan since the start of the conflict December 2013.
In addition, some 1.5 million are internally displaced in the country and more than 3.8 million of them reportedly lack sufficient food.
The statement comes a week after the UNSC extended the mandate of its mission in the country until 30 November, giving the operation authorisation to use all necessary means to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human rights, and create the conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Members of the council, in the statement, also demanded that all parties end “intimidation and harassment” against UNMISS and humanitarian personnel, cease ongoing restrictions on freedom of movement, and “allow the Mission to fully implement its mandate.”
The Council, in the wake of the recent upsurge of violence, condemned “in the strongest terms” the repeated violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement by the South Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) forces and its armed opposition groups.
The Council members underlined their willingness to impose sanctions against those who threaten peace, security or stability in South Sudan, further urging all the warring parties to engage meaningfully in the peace process to bring an end to the conflict.
US CONDEMNS SOUTH SUDAN
The United States has condemned South Sudan’s decision to expel the UN humanitarian coordinator for the world’s youngest nation.
The US State Department, in a statement, said South Sudan decision to expel the senior UN official was “an affront to the international community working to bring peace and stability to South Sudan.”
South Sudan government’s priority should be to end to the violence that has displaced millions of citizens in the country, the US said.
(ST)