UN peacekeeping chief to visit South Sudan, Abyei
February 17, 2025 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is due to visit South Sudan and Abyei region.
The visit, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, will be from February 18-24.
Discussions with government officials in Sudan will focus on strengthening cooperation and coordination to support peacekeeping efforts in the Abyei region, he remarked.
“And just to give you a bit more of a dive in the rather depressing humanitarian situation in Sudan, which remains extremely worrying, we are especially deeply concerned about the impact of violence on civilians in and around the Zamzam displacement camp in Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state,” Dujarric said.
“Following the escalation of hostilities in Zamzam over the past week, about 5,500 people were displaced and sought safety and shelter in Shamal Jabal Marrah locality in Central Darfur State,” he added.
Zamzam, according to the UN migration agency (IOM), is one of the areas in Sudan facing famine, and the total number of newly displaced people in the Shamal Jabal Marrah has now risen to over 120,000.
Dujarric said aid agencies have provided food assistance to about 93,000 of the newly displaced people and that some 53,000 people have received emergency shelter and other supplies.
In South Sudan, Lacroix is expected to meet government officials and other key partners to discuss ongoing peace operations both in South Sudan and Abyei, where the UN has peacekeeping operations.
“And just another example of the importance of maintaining the safety and security of UN personnel, our peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that one of its Blue Helmets was injured by shrapnel in Nassir County in Upper Nile State over the weekend,” noted Dujarric.
The UN strongly condemned the incident, saying it is engaging with authorities and communities to restore calm.
“Discussions will include our support to the peace process, as well as assessing the region’s evolving security dynamics. In both Sudan and South Sudan, he will meet with representatives of the UN on the ground,” stressed Dujjaric.
Lacroix will visit Abyei where he will engage with the leadership of the UN peacekeeping mission there, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), meet with representatives of the Abyei administrations and traditional leaders.
He will also engage with civil society organizations and local communities, including women’s and youth groups.
(ST)