UN says South Sudan government restricts movement
July 13, 2016 (JUBA) – United Nations has decried restriction of movement by the South Sudanese government after clashes involving rival forces occurred in the national capital, Juba.
Spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, said the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was briefed on the situation in Juba.
“As you may have seen, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Security Council on South Sudan this morning.
He said the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) had been able to conduct limited patrolling again to assess the security situation and the safety and security of personnel and assets at UN compounds.
However, he noted that securing freedom of movement remains an uphill battle as security forces limit the mission’s movement every step of the way. He urged the government to allow UNMISS and humanitarian actors’ freedom of movement and access to provide vital assistance to the affected civilian population.
Humanitarian partners have estimated that at least 42,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting in Juba. Seven thousands of those are accounted for at the two UNMISS compounds and the remaining approximately 35,000 are sheltering between the World Food Programme (WFP) compound, and an non-governmental organizations compound and several churches in the city.
Ladsous in his report to the UN Security Council reportedly expressed great concern about the potential for the resumption of violence and spill over into others parts of the country.
Noting that the parties had deliberately attempted to stall the implementation of the peace agreement, he echoed the Secretary-General’s call for the Security Council to urgently reconsider an arms embargo, as well as additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President, Riek Machar.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj, also briefed the Security Council in closed consultations.
Also UNICEF reported that they and partners were providing urgent life-saving assistance to thousands of people displaced by the fighting in Juba.
Four trucks of supplies were dispatched from UNICEF warehouses and taken to a UN displacement site in Juba as soon as movement became possible in the city.
The items include supplies for the treatment of malnutrition as well as sanitation items [such] as water containers and soap. Primary health care kits as well as recreational items for children will be distributed tomorrow.”
(ST)