UN humanitarian chief urges better protection of civilians in South Sudan

[News_Editor]

UN humanitarian chief urges better protection of civilians in South Sudan

2010-11-08 10:45:37 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) -- The head of the United Nations humanitarian office on Sunday called for better protection of civilians in southern Sudan while visiting visiting thousands of people who have fled their homes over the past three years because of persistent attacks on villages by members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

"The protection of civilians must be at the heart of the planning process of the recently announced joint Government initiative for an anti-LRA force," said Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, when she visited the 13,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Ezo county of Western Equatoria state.

"All components of the force, in particular armed community defense groups, should be subject to close Government oversight, in collaboration with expert protection partners," said Amos on the third day of her six-day visit to Sudan.

On Friday, on the first day of her visit to Sudan, Amos urged the administration in southern Sudan to ensure the protection of aid workers, decrying cases of harassment and violence against humanitarian staff in the region.

"Harassment of and violence against humanitarian workers is unacceptable and I am concerned for their security," Amos said, noting that although violence in southern Sudan has decreased compared to last year, ethnic conflict, politically-motivated unrest and attacks by armed gangs believed to be members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) continued impede humanitarian operations in the region.

Humanitarian agencies have reported worsening operating environment in the region in recent months, with 118 incidents of interference with aid delivery seen this year.

Amos said that despite prospects for a good harvest in 2011, food shortages this year, coupled with seasonal floods and continuing insecurity have led to precarious humanitarian conditions.

In Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, Amos met the President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, other Government officials, donor representatives, UN and non-governmental organization officials. Discussions focused on insecurity and humanitarian access to people in need.

She asked the Government to renew its commitment to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian assistance is unhampered and allowed to proceed without any political, ethnic or religious considerations.

On the ongoing spontaneous return of displaced people to their villages, as well as the Government of southern Sudan’s accelerated return initiative, Amos stressed that the process must be voluntary and orderly.

"Ensuring that returns take place in a free and principled manner is the responsibility of the Government," she said. "However, humanitarian workers are ready to assist where there is clear humanitarian need, and where the Government is not able to provide the required support," she added.

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