UNMISS Head of Mission and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ellen Margrethe Loej delivered a speech to the United Nations Security Council yesterday in New York. The text of the speech as published below is printed as it was delievered. This text sent to Radio Tamazuj by a UN official.
Statement to the Security Council, 22 October 2014:
Madame President,
1. Thank you for the opportunity to present the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation in South Sudan. I will provide a brief update on the most recent developments since the report’s publication on 30 September and highlight some of the major challenges facing UNMISS at this time.
2. On the security front, small scale skirmishes have continued between the two parties to the conflict. Two weeks ago the Opposition forces mobilized from the Canal area of Northern Jonglei State and attacked and captured Dolleib Hill to the south of Malakal in Upper Nile State. The SPLA subsequently recaptured Dolieb Hill and pushed the Opposition forces back into Northern Jonglei. In Unity State, tensions remain high, particularly around the UNMISS protection site in Bentiu, with the SPLA continuing to allege that the UNMISS protection site is an Opposition stronghold.
3. Outside of the traditional conflict zone we are paying close attention to Lakes State, as inter-communal violence continues which, in the most recent spate, left 30 dead in Rumbek Centre in early October. The Government is deploying additional security forces to Rumbek in an attempt to bring the security situation under control; and UNMISS is looking into ways to support the efforts of national authorities to end the violence and foster inter-communal reconciliation. In Eastern Equatoria, there was an outbreak of violence in Chukudum this month between the SPLA and the local community, following the killing of an SPLA soldier by an unidentified attacker. Tensions are also continuing in Western Equatoria as a result of the influx of pastoralists from Jonglei and Lakes States, whose cattle are destroying the crops of the mainly farming communities in the Mundri area. On a more positive note, however, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area in Jonglei State remains calm and UNMISS and the UNCT are looking into ways of contributing to the consolidation of peace in the area.
Madame President,
4. The humanitarian situation across the country remains dire. Over 1.8 million people have been displaced; 1.35 million internally, and another 453,000 to neighbouring countries. Around four million people, close to a third of the population, are facing serious food insecurity. Aid agencies are working hard to support those in need, with over 3.2 million people having been reached with some form of humanitarian assistance over the course of the year. UNMISS will continue to support the humanitarian community to ensure the key needs of the people of South Sudan are met. During the dry season requests are likely to increase for UNMISS to provide force protection to relief convoys and sites where relief is prepositioned and stored. The arrival of the remainder of the authorized surge capacity, including the proposed riverine capacity, will be key to respond to these needs. However, no amount of aid can solve the crisis or convince people to return home: only peace and reconciliation can and, sadly, in the absence of both, the aid operation will have to be sustained if we are to continue to prevent the humanitarian situation from further deteriorating.
Madame President,
5. UNMISS continues to provide protection to about 100,000 internally displaced persons in nine of its PoC sites, including about 49,000 in Bentiu, 28,000 in Juba, and over 18,000 in Malakal. To improve living conditions in UNMISS protection sites, the Mission and humanitarian partners have invested substantial resources on existing site enhancements and the construction of new sites. In Juba, two-thirds, that is over 10,000, of the internally displaced persons, have been moved from the UNMISS base in Tomping to the new site in UN House. Within the Malakal site, almost 14,000 persons have been relocated to areas with improved living conditions, while construction works continue to accommodate the remaining 5,000 persons. In Bor, the relocation to the new site started on 9 October, with approximately 1200 persons, about 40 per cent, relocated thus far. In Bentiu, prevailing physical conditions and lack of financial and engineering resources have limited options for the construction of a new site but planning for necessary drainage and other works to be carried out during the dry-season is on-going.
6. The approaching dry season offers an opportunity to pursue sustainable solutions for the plight of the IDPs in our camps. The UN family in South Sudan is working on a comprehensive strategy for such sustainable solutions. In this regard, discussions are underway between UNMISS, UN agencies, the Government and all relevant partners to commence the process of facilitating voluntary returns where security conditions allow. Here I would like to underline that any return will be voluntary and based on humanitarian principles.
Madame President,
7. With regard to the human rights situation, UNMISS continues to receive reports of gross violations of human rights, indicating that conditions remain unsafe for civilians in many parts of the country. In the Greater Upper Nile area, UNMISS investigated allegations of civilians killed in the context of hostilities in Renk during the latter half of September. Likewise, the Mission is monitoring closely the aggressive posture of the SPLA towards internally displaced persons sheltering in the UNMISS protection site in Bentiu. The recently adopted National Security Bill could also potentially further undermine fundamental rights and freedoms and narrow the political space in the country if enacted into law.
Madame President,
8. I must say that since I have been on ground, I have been shocked by the complete disregard for human life. Those responsible for committing atrocities and human rights violations must be held to account and face justice. In this connection, I look forward to the findings of the African Union Commission of Inquiry.
Madame President,
9. As at 21 October, UNMISS’s troop strength stood at 10,488 military personnel, its police strength at 890 police officers, including 363 formed police unit personnel. With the arrival of additional troops UNMISS has been exerting all efforts to expand its reach, including through the establishment of forward bases, pro-active patrolling, both military and integrated, and where possible on foot, in order to provide protection to vulnerable civilians beyond UNMISS premises.
10. The deployment of the remaining authorised personnel as well as equipment, therefore, remains vital for the Mission to more effectively deter violence against civilians. We, therefore, continue to work with our DPKO colleagues and troop and police contributing countries to accelerate the process. I wish to thank all the troop and police contributing countries for their continued support to UNMISS and urge them, as well as, other member states with the means, to help equip and accelerate the deployment of UNMISS personnel and resources.
Madame President,
11. The Mission continues its strong advocacy with all relevant authorities to ensure unfettered freedom of movement and access for UNMISS peacekeepers and other personnel, particularly in areas of high-risk of conflict and large displaced populations. Although the relations between the Mission and the national authorities have improved at the political level and the number of violations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) has decreased over the past couple of months, violations continue.
12. In this respect, I am seriously concerned by the recent spate of unlawful arrest and detention and abduction targeting UN and humanitarian personnel. Two of our national staffs have remained in detention since August. On 10 October, three UNMISS Individual Contractors were abducted at Malakal Airport, two of whom have since been released but the third person is yet to be found. On 16 October a UN agency national staff member was abducted at Malakal Airport by unknown persons. I urge Government authorities to do everything within their power to see that the captured UNMISS individual contractor and the UN Agency staff member are freed quickly and unharmed.
Madame President,
13. The IGAD Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVT) continued to focus on the monitoring and reporting of cessation of hostilities violations. Eight IGAD MVTs are now deployed, with one mobile MVT based in Juba, and the Akobo MVT operating from Bor. UNMISS is providing the necessary support including logistical and force protection to facilitate the work of the MVTs which are vital for the monitoring of the cessation of hostilities agreement. It is important to encourage IGAD to continuously take stock of the operations of its monitoring and verification mechanism, especially the MVTs, with a view to enhancing their effectiveness so that their presence can help reduce conflict on the ground.
Madame President,
14. There is no alternative to silencing the guns and concluding, without further delay, a comprehensive peace agreement in order to return the country towards the path of peace and stability. This is the message I have consistently conveyed to all my South Sudan interlocutors including President Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar. I have told them that the guns must be silenced; peace cannot be delayed even for one more day. The untold suffering of the people of South Sudan must stop. After 6 weeks in South Sudan, I am convinced that every day without a political agreement contributes to a further deterioration of the situation on the ground. This complicates the work of the Mission and risks negatively impacting the region. I therefore call on the Council, regional leaders and all friends of this young nation to remain fully engaged with the warring parties so that they make the necessary compromise required to translate their public statements of commitment to peace into actions on the ground. The people of South Sudan deserve no less.
Thank you, Madame President.