Nov 17, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Speaking at the National Dialogue Conference today in Juba, South Sudan, David Shearer, the head of UNMISS, declared that the UN Protection of Civilians sites in Juba have been redesignated into temporary camps for internally displaced people under the sovereign protection of the Government of South Sudan.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that the transition of Protection of Civilian sites into internally displaced peoples camps has gone “smoothly”.
“I am pleased to report that, so far, this process has gone smoothly,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer, at a press conference in Juba.
The head of UNMISS said confirmed that the displaced communities have been open to the change despite some initial concerns and are now working closely with local authorities and the South Sudan National Police Service – who are being strongly supported by UNPOL – along with continued services provided by humanitarians.
David shearer said that the Government now has sovereign responsibility for the sites as it does with many other IDP camps across the country.
He further said that UNPOL officers will work together with the South Sudan police at the checkpoints outside IDP camps.
“Our UNPOL officers are co-located with local police at the checkpoint outside the new IDP camps and we are planning to expand the police post to provide better law enforcement for all residents in the area,” said David Shearer.
Shearer said that the Government has committed to ensuring no-one will be forced to leave the camps and humanitarian services will continue.
“Our approach to the protection of civilians is about being proactive, about being nimble, and being robust,” said David Shearer.
“We have a responsibility to protect those who need protection the most. That means we need to relocate our troops and staff who facilitate reconciliation and peacebuilding into areas of tension, and hopefully address that tension before conflict erupts,” shearer added.
UNMISS facilitated the signing of an agreement between former POC residents and neighbouring communities that they will live together peacefully.
UNMISS re-designation has allowed the mission to gradually withdraw troops from static duties at the sites where there is no threat so they can be redeployed to conflict hotspots where people’s lives are in real danger.
