Latest news with #JongleiState
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
United for Peace: United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers Day commemoration promotes shared desire for unity in South Sudan
'For very long time, we have been waiting for peace. With peace, there will be no more war. The time for change is here now,' crooned prominent South Sudanese reggae singer, WJ De King and fellow artist Irene Toss. Their electrifying performance brought hundreds of people to their feet, singing and dancing together, at the flagship event commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeeping in Bor, Jonglei State. 'Peace begins with self-love, with self-reliance. Peace begins with celebrating diversity and embracing unity.' The dynamic duo embraced the theme for the day by launching a new song, commissioned by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, as part of a campaign to promote peace in the world's youngest country, under the theme 'Peace Begins with Me'. The campaign calls on every individual to take action, no matter how small, to contribute to a powerful, collective movement for peace. It also recognizes the persistence and unwavering commitment of the people of South Sudan to end conflict and secure sustainable peace and democracy. 'This event means a lot as coming together is the only way forward. If there is music, there is peace,' stressed WJ De King, who is also renown for being a peace activist. The event, held at the Jonglei State Secretariat, was all about engagement and inclusion, with participants including women's groups, children from a variety of schools, government officials, and UNMISS peacekeepers. 'Today is the day to make friendships. Make sure you don't go home without making a friend,' was the first thing people heard when entering the location, from young community mobilizer and writer, Mnyok Akech Atem, who seized the opportunity to promote the change he would like to see in his country. By giving space to different communities, the commemoration ceremony celebrated diversity and encouraged participants to embrace unity by resolving grievances, promoting reconciliation, and working together to implement locally led peace processes. 'It is our responsibility to foster mindsets and actions that will contribute to sustainable long-term peace in this country,' said the Guest of Honor, Jonglei State Deputy Governor, Matiop Lueth Atem. 'The UNMISS peacekeepers have been leading by example, and we want you to know that we, and the world beyond our nation's borders, see your sacrifice for the service to others.' UNMISS Head of Bor Field Office, Geeta Pious, stressed the mission's commitment to supporting South Sudan as it navigates the difficult journey from war to peace. She highlighted the contribution being made by peacekeepers in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to protect civilians, deter violence, build critical infrastructure, and even help revolutionize the agricultural sector to encourage economic growth. For once, during the notorious rainy season, the weather was kind with the sun shining down on those gathered to celebrate the day, while it was noted that, at the same time, UNMISS peacekeepers were tirelessly labouring to drain water from areas hit by severe flooding, including the event venue, earlier in the week. It was the perfect conditions for hosting a wide variety of performances by Indian, Ethiopian, South Korean and Sri Lankan peacekeepers as well as the Nuer, Dinka and Anyuak communities. As event moderator UNMISS' Mach Samuel put it: 'It's like watching the world live'! 'The fact that so many local communities came here and showed their appreciation with their performances really made us feel the significance and impact of our work here,' shared UNMISS engineering peacekeeper, Captain Sylvia Nzila. At the end of the day, there was a sense that change is possible. Even after the event was officially concluded, participants from all communities stayed to exchange hugs, contact details, and share their feelings. The outcome demonstrates that peacekeeping is more than just protecting civilians, it is about building trust and confidence in support of sustainable peace, so that the people of South Sudan can secure the brighter future that they deserve. It illustrates that peace really does begin with me, you and all of us. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South Sudan should ‘pull back from the brink': UN
The United Nations rights chief urged on Friday for warring sides in South Sudan to pull back from the brink, warning that the human rights situation risks further deterioration as fighting intensifies. 'The escalating hostilities in South Sudan portend a real risk of further exacerbating the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation, and undermining the country's fragile peace process,' said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. 'All parties must urgently pull back from the brink,' he added. South Sudan, the world's youngest country after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, was plunged into a violent civil war between 2013 and 2018 that claimed around 400,000 lives. A power-sharing agreement between the warring parties provided a fragile calm, but it has all but collapsed as violent clashes have broken out between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar, who was put under house arrest in March. Since May 3 fighting has intensified, with the UN citing reports of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and river and ground offensives by the South Sudan People's Defence Forces on Sudan People's Liberation Army positions in parts of Fangak in Jonglei State and in Tonga County in Upper Nile.
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
South Sudan: South Korean peacekeepers assist Bor hospital in fighting cholera
Out of the many humanitarian issues challenging the population in South Sudan, cholera is currently one of the most dangerous. Responding to an outbreak in Jonglei State, UN peacekeepers from South Korea have provided Bor State Hospital with essential medical supplies. The potentially lifesaving goods, including 1,000 doses of cholera medication and intravenous fluids and equipment needed for infusions, are urgently needed. In Bor's camp for internally displaced persons, 18 cases have already been confirmed, with one child having succumbed to the disease. 'Previous outbreaks have caused despair and fear all across our country, which makes it crucial for us to have adequate resources available, both to avoid rising death tolls and to prevent this waterborne disease from spreading further,' commented Riek Gai Kok, Governor of Jonglei State. To assist local authorities in such successful prevention, the South Korean contingent, serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and aware of locals frequently sharing scarce water resources, also handed over much-needed water purification pills to help avoid mass contamination. While constituting a good start, the Governor stated that other measures are also needed, including effective cleaning and waste management routines. To reduce the population density and better protect residents at crowded camps, he has also called for many internally displaced persons to be relocated to safer areas. Coupled with community awareness raising on how cholera is transmitted as well as on safe food preparation procedures, he hopes that the battle against the life-threatening disease can be won. With camps for the internally displaced becoming increasingly overcrowded and with sanitation systems being unable to cope, Geetha Pious, Head of the peacekeeping mission's Field Office in Bor, says there is no time to lose. 'To mitigate the problems arising from the dangerous combination of limited living space and poor sanitation, UNMISS will continue to provide hygiene articles, medications and other necessary items that may sometimes be missing,' she said. UNMISS peacekeepers in Jonglei, from South Korea and elsewhere, have a long history of helping local communities in need. Apart from handovers of medical supplies, they have also built an emergency ward, a pharmacy, an outpatient department and a temporary intensive care unit for the main hospital in Bor. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
