South Sudan government, UNMISS conduct joint assessment mission

United Nations peacekeepers have increased their patrols in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state, where insecurity has displaced many families. The UN mission in the country is collaborating with South Sudanese government agencies to assist those most affected by the escalating tensions in the state.
Today, as unrest is on the rise in this troubled region of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state with the postponement of a long-awaited peace conference, accompanied by a deterioration in the overall security situation, Suzanna, who had returned to her farm and home, is justifiably worried. Jane Lanyero Kony, Head of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Western Equatoria, reiterated UNMISS’ commitment to protecting civilians.
In an effort to address related issues, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the United Nations Development Programme, and the National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission (NDDR), have partnered with the government of France to launch the second phase of a pilot Community Violence Reduction project in Western Bahr El Ghazal State.
“It aims to mitigate any form of violence that could be provoked by former combatants or armed youths in their host communities,” explained Kuot Kuot Deng, a community violence reduction expert with the NDDR.
The first phase of the project, consisting of providing trauma healing and psychosocial support to these ex-soldiers, was implemented last year by the civil society organization Solidarity Ministries Africa for Reconciliation and Development.