20 January 2014 - Churches in the Western Equatoria capital Yambio have donated vitally needed items to over 60 internal displaced persons (IDPs) who were recently caught in conflict in Mundri Country.

Secondhand clothes, bed covers and food were distributed to the IDPs, who survived in the bush for three days after conflict erupted between Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers there on 4 January.

“We as a church should … help our people spiritually and physically by offering what we have to those in need,” said Reverend Samuel Timoteo of the Christians in Communion of Evangelical Churches (CEEC).

He called on South Sudanese leaders to stop fighting and enter into dialogue. People were tired of war, which had been present in the country on and off since the 1950s.

Churches and community based organizations, including the Young Women’s Christian Association, submitted their contributions to the state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, which has been hosting the IDPS at its Rehabilitation Centre.

Peace has prevailed in Western Equatoria following conflict that broke out in Juba on 15 December 2013 between pro- and anti-government forces and spread to several other states.

20 January 2014 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was alarmed by attempts of senior South Sudanese government officials to force entry into the protective site for civilians at the UNMISS compound in the Jonglei State capital Bor, UNMISS Spokesperson Ariane Quentier said in Juba today.

Ms. Quentier’s remarks followed comments from government officials about UNMISS’ refusal to allow armed soldiers into the mission’s base. According to the comments, the incident raised concerns about the UNs position during conflict in the country over the last five weeks.

“The Secretary-General is also very disturbed that there were threats against staff members from UNMISS when they denied access to military personnel from the South Sudan army into the compound,” she said. “The Secretary-General calls on all the parties to respect the sanctity of UNMISS protection sites and UNMISS installations.”

There are currently an estimated 10,000 civilians taking shelter in the protection site at UNMISS premises in Bor.

“The Secretary-General condemns the threats made against UN personnel and demands that all parties to the conflict respect the sanctity of UNMISS protection sites,” a statement issued by his spokesperson said yesterday.

“This incident is just one of a growing number of violations of the Status of Forces Agreement, making it increasingly difficult for UNMISS to implement its mandate and dangerous for UN staff working in South Sudan,” it added.

Mr. Ban noted in the statement that thousands of civilians had been killed, brutally abused and left homeless in just over a month of conflict in South Sudan.

He called on parties and their leaders to do far more to ensure fighters under their command protected civilians and respected international humanitarian law. They should also immediately cease hostilities, which have had such a devastating impact on their young country.

21 January 2014 - Seven unaccompanied children were among 18 internally displaced people (IDPs) who arrived in the Northern Bahr El-Ghazal capital Aweil today from Rubkona County in Unity State. IDP Adhok Akok said when fighting started in Bentiu, they took refuge in the UNMISS compound. But after the government recaptured the town earlier this month, they made a decision to leave the state.

Using public commercial transport, the IDPs set off for Aweil.

“These children were crying without their parents, so I took them for their safety and welfare,” she said. “Four of their mothers have contacted us, but we do not know the whereabouts of the others.”

Ms. Akok thanked Aweil residents for giving the children food and asked for more support, as she was also a new arrival in the area.

The state’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission director, Deng Kuel Kuel, described the situation as “terrible”.

“(When) they reported to my office this morning, I interviewed them and confirmed seven children (arrived without) their parents,” he said. “I talked to the social welfare department in order to identify the families or relatives.”

24 January 2014 - When shooting began in Juba on 15 December 2013, Mary Nyapel was sleeping in her house near the national army’s headquarters in Juba, unaware that the gunfire would change her life.

“My husband was killed in front of our children,” said the mother of five, who currently lives in a small make-shift tent in the UNMISS protection site in Tomping. “When the children saw this, they ran away from the house thinking that both of their parents had been killed. It was hard for our children to see the blood of their father.”

Ms. Nyapel survived, but with injuries to both legs she could not escape, and stayed in her home with her two youngest children.

“I spent three days without seeing my (other) children,” she recounts. “I did not know where they were, but an UNMISS staff brought me here and later on I was reunited with my children.”

Apparently, another woman from her neighbourhood took Ms. Nyapel’s children with her as she and thousands of other civilians sought refuge in the mission’s base.

Ms. Nyapel’s story is similar to others in the camp, where UNMISS, UNICEF and the non-governmental organization Non-Violent Peace Force are working together to respond to different child protection challenges.

“We are … involved in reunification of children separated from their families (and) in family tracing,” said UNMISS Child Protection Officer Bado Datar.

According to a UNICEF report issued on 5 January, 210 separated or unaccompanied children have been identified in UN camps in Juba. While the more fortunate ones like Ms. Nyapel have been reunited with their children, the report noted that there were still 87 cases of missing children.

Close to Ms. Nyapel’s tent, a father walked around with a photo of his missing son in his pocket. As they escaped fighting in Juba, the little boy somehow got separated from his mother.

“I have a problem,” he said, explaining that he and his family had only just returned to South Sudan from Israel. Now it seemed that dreams of settling in their peaceful, independent nation had been shattered, but even worse, they’d lost a child.

Other children have been reported missing in camps across the country, the report said. In Awerial, Lakes State, a total of 97 unaccompanied children were identified and registered. Eight were reunified with their parents, while protection partners worked out a foster care system for others.

UNMISS and UNICEF organized an advocacy programme in Juba UN House this week to raise awareness about issues of recruiting children into armed forces and reporting on grave child rights violations.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) in South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ms. Hilde F. Johnson welcomes the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement as a first step towards a lasting and durable peace in South Sudan.

The SRSG calls on all the parties to fully and immediately implement the agreement and start an inclusive and comprehensive political dialogue to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict, work towards national reconciliation and build effective state institutions so the people of South Sudan enjoy the peace they so much deserved.

The SRSG also wants to acknowledge the tireless efforts and constructive role played by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and regional partners to achieve this cessation of hostilities agreement and expedite the release of the detainees.

For further information or media enquiries,
Spokesperson: Ariane Quentier - quentier@un.org +211 912 177 770

28 January 2014 - Continued violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed between teams from the South Sudan government and rival forces were because the accord was defective, the Minister of Information said in Juba today.

“There is no set up system to which we can report instances of violations,” said Michael Makuei Lueth at a press conference.

Mr. Lueth’s comments followed a briefing on the two agreements by the chief negotiator of the government delegation, Nhial Deng Nhial, who said the main aim of his team’s participation in the talks was a cessation of hostilities and an environment conducive to permanently end the conflict.

“Continued fighting indicates importance of expeditiously setting up the monitoring and verification team,” said Mr. Nhial. “We anticipate continued skirmishes because it is not easy to reign in an army of civilians which has no command and control mechanism.”

Following the signing of the agreement which UNMISS Chief Hilde F. Johnson welcomed as “a first step towards a lasting and durable peace in South Sudan”, there have been reports of violations of the agreement by both sides.

Speaking to Radio Miraya yesterday, a member of the Intergovernmental Authority in Development (IGAD) mediating team, Ambassador Dina Mufti, said no cessation of hostilities was ever implemented immediately and that it was normal to have sporadic clashes before such agreements went into full effect.

“Both sides are obliged to observe it and the IGAD and the rest of the International community would expect minimum forms of observing the cessation of hostilities agreement,” he said.

He revealed however that a monitoring and verification team would be on the ground by the end of this month.

“It is not something that should take long because it is very urgent,” he said. “IGAD is working on this and as soon as they finalize (it) … they will disclose the details because there will be different mandates for this monitoring group."

Speaking about the status of 11 political detainees, Mr. Nhial said the issue had gained much attention as a condition for rebels to sign the agreement, but noted that his delegation had had no input on the matter during negotiations.

“It’s an issue not with the president, but with the Ministry of Justice,” he said, adding that the latter had informed an extraordinary cabinet meeting yesterday that investigations were now complete.

“They shall not be held indefinitely; South Sudan is not a police state,” Mr. Nhial added. “We are a young country, but we have institutions and any action against the law requires due legal process including investigation and accountability. For now, there is no imminent release of the detainees.”

29 January 2014 - South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) was seeking to bridge the gap of trust between citizens and the force which had widened during the crisis in the country, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) said in Juba today.

“There are increasing demands for police to become visible in its law and order role,” said Gen. Pieng Deng Kuol, describing the extent of the division between the police and the people as “detrimental to efficient and successful future operations, reforms and restructure” of the force.

Following discussions with UNMISS Police Commissioner Fred Yiga on how to achieve a positive outcome out of a negative situation, Gen. Kuol presented a draft strategy which will focus on developing capacity of SSNPS officers’ skills in reconciliation and rebuilding of public relations as well as place importance on bringing civilians back to their homes.

He said the pilot programme which will start in Juba before extending to other states, will establish an interactive process, integrating SSNPS officers approved by IDP community leaders in protection of civilian sites.

He emphasized that SSNPS would not “force ourselves in, but need to develop a programme that is attractive to the people”, with an expected result of improved relations and eventual repatriation from protection sites.

UNPOL commissioner Yiga said the meeting, which he described as “very successful” was intended to look at South Sudan after the conflict.

“Before the crisis, we had a very steady programme of transforming and reforming the police service but because of the last few days, there has been a need to change our direction before we continue with what we had planned,” he said. “We are talking about South Sudanese who are living in fear … (and) need confidence that police in this country is still available for them and can give them the protection that they think we give them.”

Mr. Yiga said UNPOL had agreed to work with SSNPS to raise awareness through the media and give local police officers specialized training in topics such as human rights, protection of civilians and international humanitarian law.

“Police is the only institution that has been mandated by the constitution to keep law and order and this is the time to make sure that it is visible,” he said. “The police must make sure that they keep their promise of assuring the people… Development at this time in history cannot happen unless all the citizens in this country feel secure.”

28 January 2013 - Construction on a vital road linking residents of Turalei, Warrap State, with the only medical facility in Twic County was launched by UNMISS in the town today.

The road suffers seasonal flooding, making is virtually impassable during the rainy season.

The almost one-kilometer project, chosen by the community association and county authority, is being funded by an UNMISS Quick Impact Project (QIP).

County Executive Director Baptist Gum said constructing the road from Freedom Square to Mother Tereza hospital was prioritized to ensure year-round accessibility to the facility.

“UNMISS … this is yet another support of your organization to the people of Twic County and South Sudan,” Mr. Gum said.

Women’s representative Pantel Yor Malith said the road would significantly assist pregnant women and those delivering babies during the rainy season.

UNMISS State Coordinator Abraham Onifade noted that the project was small in terms of distance, but would have a significant and long-lasting impact on the entire Twic community.

“It opens up access to Mother Tereza health facility and it will serve the community beneficially in many respects for years to come,” Mr. Onifade said.

He also noted that UN humanitarian agencies were supporting more than 11,000 IDPs in Twic County.

Relief and Rehabilitation Commission County Secretary Abraham Yor said the launch signified positive cooperation between UNMISS and Twic County.

The mission has also assisted Twic with a community center and extension of the County Commissioner’s office as well as a QIP-funded water project awaiting commissioning.

Also attending the launch were members of the Turalei community, the county inspector of police, community leaders and representatives of the project contractor, LOU Group.

31 January 2014 - Seeking peaceful migration of livestock this year, more than 500 delegates from the Dinka Malual and Misseryia communities concluded a three-day conference today in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The two communities agreed to allow Misseryia nomadic tribes access to water and pasture from South Sudan’s territory and the Dinka Malual commercial goods from the Misseyria areas of Sudan’s Western Kordofan State.

The Agreement was witnessed by senior government officials and UN representatives.

In closing remarks, Misseryia women’s representative Gisima Ibrahim Hamid expressed regret at the death of their sons in past conflicts, urging youths of her tribe to advocate for peace.

“Enough, enough for the sadness of the women,” Mr. Hamid said. “And orphans that remained without knowing … their fathers. Our youth who came here should listen and observe how we sat together with South Sudanese.”

Dinka Malual youth representative James Garang Arech said he had observed that Misseryia youth were serious about peace this year, calling on them to maintain it for development in the two communities.

UNMISS State Coordinator Seth Kumi said the mission would support the peaceful migration of Misseryia nomads.

The conference was supported by the non-governmental organization VISTAS, UNMISS and the state Peace Commission.

2 February 2014 - UNMISS staff had shown a great resilience and effectiveness as they assisted the South Sudanese people during the crisis in the country, the UN peacekeeping operations chief said in Juba today.

“There had to be difficult decisions to be made,” said Under-Secretary-General Hervé Ladsous on arrival in the country for a two-day visit. “I think it’s a credit to the UN that the Special Representative of the Secretary General and all the staff, whether international or national … have displayed such strength during these very difficult circumstances.”

Mr. Ladsous, who arrived from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa where he attended the African Union (AU) summit was met by UNMISS Chief Hilde F. Johnson. During his visit, he will meet with UN staff and peacekeepers as well as senior government officials to discuss the ongoing crisis in the country and the operations of UNMISS.

“I thought it only natural that I should come to Juba, to visit UNMISS to commend the bravery and the incredible work that they have been doing over this terrible period and also to see the senior leadership in the country to see how we can helps towards coming out of this terrible ordeal that South Sudan has suffered,” he said.

Mr. Ladsous and Under Secretary General for field support Ameerah Haq represented the UN during a meeting held by the AU-UN Joint Task Force on Peace and Security immediately after the AU assembly of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa.

“The task force recognized that the outbreak of violence was due to political disagreements and emphasized that a lasting solution could only be found through dialogue,” said a statement on the AU website. “In that regard, the AU and the UN would continue to support the mediation led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and ongoing efforts to establish a mechanism for the monitoring and verification of the cessation of hostilities agreement.”

The UN also pledged full support to the Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations being established by the AU as an important tool for promoting accountability, reconciliation and healing, the statement added.

3 February 2014 - There could be no other solution to the crisis in South Sudan than a political one, UN peacekeeping operations chief Herve Ladsous said in Juba today.

“UNMISS is concentrating on three areas: protection of civilians, human rights and help to humanitarian actors to deliver, but clearly the solution to this massive crisis has to be a political one,” he said.

During his two-day visit to the country, Mr. Ladsous met with President Salva Kiir and discussed different challenges brought on by the crisis.

“Priority must go to the agreement signed on 23 January for the cessation of hostilities,” said Mr. Ladsous after the meeting. “In that sense, I conveyed the total support of the United Nations for the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) mediation process.”

The peacekeeping chief also briefed the president on the situation the mission was dealing with on various UN bases sheltering civilians.

During a visit to the protection of civilians area at the UNMISS base in Tomping, Mr. Ladsous said seeing thousands of people alive was a clear indicator UNMISS had made the right decision in opening its gates to civilians, although living conditions were difficult.

Community leaders expressed their appreciation, but also discussed the people’s fears and challenges with him.

“We are under pressure to return to our homes, but people are afraid,” said one representative. “If the UN cannot take us to another country, let us at least get transport back to our localities (of origin).”

Mr. Ladsous said the mission and humanitarian partners had taken up the most urgent aspects of people’s needs, but with coming rains, it was important to find ways to decongest the bases.

“It is a terrible strain for the UN and humanitarian partners to provide water and food but a lot of work is ongoing to improve facilities, find alternatives, but above all to bring about conditions that will help you return to your homes,” he said.

The UN chief also met with national and international UN staff, who he commended for their resilience throughout the crisis, and for sharing UNMISS facilities with South Sudanese seeking shelter in Juba and other places. He noted that this action had saved lives, but “deaths that don’t occur don’t make news”.

“Had this not been done, then it would have been many thousands or ten thousands of civilians who would have been killed,” he said. “Difficult as it may have been, as it is, as it could be in future, I think it shows a great example of the sort of thing we have to do."

4 February 2014 - Reinforcing the UNMISS military component in South Sudan, 266 Nepalese peacekeepers arrived in Juba today from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The contingent’s arrival followed an advance team of 25 Nepalese troops who arrived in the country in January from MINUSTAH to support the mission after an outbreak of violence on 15 December between pro- and anti-government forces.

The troops joined the mission in line with a Security Council resolution in December to increase the mission’s military component to make a total force of 12,500 troops.

“We are extremely grateful for the prompt response that Nepal has shown and has willingly accepted to provide UNMISS with an additional battalion at short notice,” said UNMISS Deputy Force Commander Asit Mistry.

He said the troops, who include 10 women, will originally be deployed at UN House in Juba, and deployment would then be adjusted “as per emerging situation”.

“I am confident that you will perform as well as the other Nepalese battalion … I wish all of you a safe and secure tenure here in South Sudan,” Brig. Gen. Mistry added.

Another 500 troops coming directly from the Nepal capital Kathmandu are also expected to join the team in coming weeks.

The resolution to boost UNMISS troops was made in support of a recommendation by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to temporarily increase the overall force levels to support the mission in protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance.

On 9 January, UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous said the 5,500-strong surge in UN peacekeepers and equipment for South Sudan could take up to eight weeks to be fully deployed on the ground.

On 4 February, a contingent of 266 additional peacekeepers arrived in South Sudan. The troops include 10 women, two of whom are doctors, and three nurses. They will be deployed in Juba at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) protection sites. The arrival of additional battalions is expected in the coming weeks.

The current deployment is pursuant to the 24 December 2013 UN Security Council resolution 2132 which reinforced UNMISS military and police components by an additional 5,500 troops and 423 police, to bring the total authorized numbers in South Sudan up to 12,500 peacekeepers and up to 1,323 police. The Security Council also encouraged “inter-mission cooperation” for needed troops and assets to be transferred from other UN missions to UNMISS. Additional troops are therefore coming from already existing peacekeeping operations

So far, all additional authorized police have arrived as Formed Police Units and been sent to Bentiu, Bor, Malakal and Juba in the course of January.

UNMISS is currently protecting approximately 75,000 civilians in 8 protection sites located on UNMISS compounds, including over 43,000 in Juba; 21,000 in Malakal; 6,000 in Bor and close to 3,000 in Bentiu.

For further information or media enquiries, Spokesperson: Ariane Quentier - quentier@un.org +211 912 177 770

6 February 2014 - The World Food Programme (WFP) this week distributed a one-week food ration to help displaced people in the Jonglei State capital Bor deal with food shortages.

Targeting more than 5,000 people seeking shelter at the UNMISS base in Bor, WFP distributed about 15,189 metric tons of food and non-food items from 3 to 4 February.

Yasuyuki Misawa, head of the WFP state office said this followed earlier distribution of 20, 043 metric tons of food and non-food items to 6,809 people at the same base during the third week of January.

Yesterday, humanitarian partners, including WFP, also started as assessment of Bor town aimed planning resettlement of civilians displaced from their homes during the conflict.

“So far we have not seen many people returning back to the town and this is one of the challenges for us to make a plan (for) the near future,” said Mr. Misawa. “We are still working on integrated assistance to resettle civilians.”

He noted that aid agencies would also assist displaced people in other parts of the state once peace and stability returned to the region.

7 February 2014 - A group of women living under the protection of UNMISS Bentiu in Unity State have been meeting with top government and UN officials as well as travelling to Addis Ababa in their urgent appeal for peace in South Sudan.

“We suffered for 21 years and we have eaten the sweet fruits of peace since 2005,” said Semira Deng Chang Kon, one of two women from the mission site to travel to Addis Ababa on 3 February for a meeting of the Taskforce on the Engagement of Women.

“My message to all women,” Ms. Kon said. “If you are in the bush, or at home or anywhere else, please talk about the peace,” she said.” “If you have visitors at your home, whoever they are, if they are carrying guns, ask them to leave them outside and talk with them about peace.”

She said South Sudanese had been fighting for independence during the previous war in a just cause. But she disparaged the current conflict, which broke out in December 2013 in Juba between pro- and anti-government forces.

“But if a cause makes us sleep under trees, we don’t care about it … whether it’s right or not,” Ms. Kon said. “We don’t want our women to give birth under a tree, we don’t want our children to die under a tree and we don’t want our elders to sit under trees because there is no water.”

The second Addis Abbaba delegate, Wedad Yunise Ibrahim Mahamed, noted that 10 Sudanese and 34 South Sudanese women had attended the Addis meeting.

“The women from both countries are calling for peace,” she said. “We traveled so far from here in a hope the leaders will listen to us and stop fighting.”

“Sisters, it is us women who are suffering,” Ms. Mahamed said, addressing all women. “We are the ones who give birth, the ones who suffer for our children and the ones who burry them. All those who die in the bush are our children, our sisters, our brothers and husbands.”

Organized by The Institute for Inclusive Security in partnership with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Nonviolent Peaceforce, the Taskforce on the Engagement of Women took place from 25 to 30 January. Its primary focus was to ensure women’s engagement in peace processes in South Sudan and Sudan.

Men in the camp support the women’s peace initiative, including Simon Diu, one of the leaders at the Bentiu protection site.

“We are encouraging all the women to have a one voice regardless of the ethnicity,” he said. “No tribe can rule the country alone. If all the tribes are united thanks to initiative of women we can have a united nation and development can come.”

On 21 January, women’s representatives from different ethnic groups staying at UNMMISS Bentiu walked 12 kilometres to meet Caretaker Governor of Unity State John Koang Nyuom and hand him a letter from Unity State women.

They met with UNMISS Deputy Special Representative of Secretary-General Raisedon Zenenga on 24 January, who supported their peace building initiative during his meeting with the Deputy Governor of Unity State.

The women are continuing their meetings and advocacy. They plan to formalize their group and meet the Governor again.

7 February 2014 - The United Nations has extended relief operations in Malakal, Upper Nile State, scene of some of the fiercest fighting between government and opposition forces.

The mission has moved outside its base, where it is sheltering 28,000 civilians to reach 10,000 others driven from their homes.

“This is the first aid to reach the displaced people outside of the UN base in Malakal,” UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba told a news briefing in Geneva today.

“Insecurity as well as wide-spread looting of humanitarian assets meant that UNHCR and other agencies were unable to deliver aid to those displaced outside of the UN base in Malakal until now,” she said.

Since Tuesday, UNHCR has delivered plastic sheeting, jerry cans, buckets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats and blankets airlifted into Malakal from its regional stockpile in Nairobi, Kenya, to more than 3,000 people and hopes to reach the other 7,000 by the end of next week.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and more than 870,000 others have fled their homes since fighting broke out on 15 December between the forces of President Salva Kiir and former deputy president Riek Machar.

Some 75,000 of the displaced are seeking refuge on eight UN bases throughout the country. The two sides signed a ceasefire in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month, leading to a relative lull.

“We are taking advantage of the relative calm following the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the warring forces on 23 January 2014 to deliver aid to the most vulnerable,” Ms. Lejeune-Kaba said.

Malakal, some 600 kilometres north of the capital Juba, has some 153,000 displaced people, the second largest concentration after Unity State with more than 188,000.

Most of the displaced in Malakal outside the UN base have been staying in schools and other sites for weeks, while others continue arriving from Khorflus in neighboring Jonglei State or from nearby villages, citing fear and insecurity, despite the truce.

“Some of the displaced have told our emergency staff that the security situation in their villages continues to be tense and that they could not work or survive in that kind of environment,” Ms. Lejeune-Kaba said. “The city of Malakal itself remains largely deserted and civilians continue to flee to and from it.”

UNHCR is distributing relief items in close collaboration with other UN agencies and humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and the Christian non-governmental organization World Vision.

18 February 2014 - Women had suffered most during the South Sudan conflict, representatives of displaced women living in an UNMISS protection site in Juba said today while meeting UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka.

“When the fighting started, we thought it was a war between men but we have been the biggest victims,” said the women leaders.

They added that men had an option to run away or to join the fighting, but women as mothers had to stay with their children and find ways to fend for them.

“All we ask for is peace so that we can go back to our lives,” the representatives said. “We want our children to go home, to school and to get a variety of nutritious food and proper health services.”

The women said they had remained in displacement sites, despite inadequate basic services, because they feared for their safety if they returned to their homes.

“The women here have challenges in relation to health, food and some of the women do not even know where their children and partners are,” said Ms. Mlambo-Ngucka. “It is really hard for the communities, for the women (and) the children. The sooner we find peace, the better it’s going to be for everybody.”

The UN Women chief said it was “important and possible for women to start the journey to peace” and encouraged them to do so.

“They must stay strong,” she said. “They must make sure that for them and for their children, they must continue to be the voice of peace and they must not lose hope.”

Ms. Mlambo-Ngucka said UN Women had also held discussions with negotiating parties in Addis Ababa about including women in the political talks.

“We are happy that women are now included,” she said. “We are now looking at finding ways of getting women … involved in economic (activities).”

Describing the situation for displaced women as “desperate”, Ms. Mlambo-Ngucka said her organization would work with women and support them in areas they identified as feasible where resources were available.

“They’ve asked for help in literacy and rebuilding their lives economically,” she said. “We are trying to understand what opportunities are there which cannot only give them sustenance here, but things that they can take back with them when they go back to their communities.”

18 February 2014 - Civilians sheltering at UNMISS in the Unity State capital Bentiu have moved to a new, more spacious and better-serviced camp within the mission compound.

UNMISS prepared the site’s ground, ditch and berm, Mongolian soldiers are manning the watchtowers and armed Nepalese police are patrolling the area.

Humanitarians laid out the camp and are providing services in consultation with communities.

Bentiu resident Cristina James, who has been living at UNMISS for three weeks, moved to the new site a few days ago with her three sisters and 11 children (their own and from relatives). There, they constructed their own tukul (thatched hut).

“It took us three days to set up and transfer our family,” she said. “There is more space here and better facilities. The plot that was allocated to us is close to school, water and latrines.

Another resident, Luony Kuk, said security at the new site was “very good”. “There is space to move between the tukuls, so the Nepalese FPUs can patrol freely during the nights. (But) we need more searches to prevent people from brewing alcohol.”

Commenting on the space, she said, “There is enough space to wash clothes and to dry them. There is more space for children.”

Sroana Rusu, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Field Officer and protection site camp manager, noted the international standard for space was 3.5 square metres per person, but the UNMISS Bentiu ration was currently 5 square metres.

“Local communities advised how numerous … the households (were) and the plots were allocated accordingly,” Ms. Rusu said. “The community representatives (also) brought to DRC attention that in local culture women and men do not sleep in one space and that was taken into consideration.”

Civilians seeking protection began pouring into UNMISS Bentiu on 19 December 2013. Violence had broken out in Juba five days before between pro- and anti-government forces, which rapidly spread to several other states, including Unity.

Four days later, numbers of displaced at the mission had swelled to about 7,000, but current estimations place the figure at 3,000.

As UNMISS is a peacekeeping rather than humanitarian organization, the compound was ill-prepared to host large numbers of people over an extended period of time. Humanitarians with resources and technical knowledge eventually stepped in to manage the site and provide services.

The DRC has been managing it since 15 January, ensuring that services are available and their provision is coordinated.

Ms. Rusu said they had been working to close major service gaps DRC had initially identified in health, nutrition, gender-based violence response and education. “The needs have been largely addressed by now, although the clinics still don’t have surgical capacity, and reproductive and antenatal services are still to be improved.”

The DRC is an international non-governmental organization that has been operating in Unity State since 2012. It has been in charge of setting up and managing Ajuong Thok Refugee Camp in Pariang County, with a capacity of 20,000 people, most of which were relocated from Yida settlement.

(extract)

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is to offer an interim 'snapshot' on the progress of human rights investigations during the first six weeks of the crisis from 15 December 2013 through 31 January 2014. The report also sets out a 'road map' indicating the next steps in these ongoing investigations and pointing the way toward completing a fuller report in April that can underpin efforts to ensure that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law will be held accountable, as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 2132.

20 January 2014 - Churches in the Western Equatoria capital Yambio have donated vitally needed items to over 60 internal displaced persons (IDPs) who were recently caught in conflict in Mundri Country.

Secondhand clothes, bed covers and food were distributed to the IDPs, who survived in the bush for three days after conflict erupted between Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers there on 4 January.

“We as a church should … help our people spiritually and physically by offering what we have to those in need,” said Reverend Samuel Timoteo of the Christians in Communion of Evangelical Churches (CEEC).

He called on South Sudanese leaders to stop fighting and enter into dialogue. People were tired of war, which had been present in the country on and off since the 1950s.

Churches and community based organizations, including the Young Women’s Christian Association, submitted their contributions to the state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, which has been hosting the IDPS at its Rehabilitation Centre.

Peace has prevailed in Western Equatoria following conflict that broke out in Juba on 15 December 2013 between pro- and anti-government forces and spread to several other states.