SOUTH SUDAN / ABUROC PEACEKEEPING

The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said a new nimble and pro-active peacekeeping approach has helped prevent a potential humanitarian disaster in the Upper Nile region of the country. UNMISS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:10
• Production Date: 22 June 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 1916033
• Parent Id: 1916033
• Alternate Title: unifeed170622g

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / ABUROC PEACEKEEPING
TRT: 02:10
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 JUNE 2017 ABUROC, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Aerial shot, Aboruc
2. Wide shots, Rwandan peacekeeper patrolling area
3. Med shot, Shearer speaking to peacekeepers on the ground
4. Med shot, Adhong and Shearer walking past makeshift shelters
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Victoria Adhong, Acting Governor of Fashoda State:
“People are like okay they are scared and they are running out from here; but when they saw the UNMISS troops on the ground, they felt safe and they feel secure. It is like someone is protecting them in a way. So they are happy with that.”
6. Wide shot, Internally displaced persons with special needs seated in large group
8. Med, Internally displaced persons with special needs
9. Various shots, Adhong and Shearer siting with community leaders
12. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, United Nations:
“It’s something that we hadn’t done before. It’s something that our peacekeepers aren’t known for, getting into helicopters, flying in at very very short notice, establishing a base on the ground in a potentially hostile environment, and then getting on with the job of bringing others in to do that humanitarian work. It worked really well here and it has set a precedent and bit of a model for the rest of our peacekeeping troops to look at; and helped us to practice and get it all together. So I am very, very pleased about this. At the bottom line here, there are hundreds of people who are alive today who would not have been alive if we had not done this and that helps me sleep at night.”
13. Aerial shot, UNMISS Helicopter on the ground
14. Med shot, displaced people walking by UNMISS Helicopter
15. Med shot, peacekeepers standing guard near huts
16. Wide shot, Rwandan peacekeepers standing guard near huts

Storyline

The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said a new nimble and pro-active peacekeeping approach has helped prevent a potential humanitarian disaster in the Upper Nile region of the country.

At the peak of the conflict in the region, up to 70,000 people fled their homes and gathered in the village of Aburoc seeking shelter from ongoing violence. UNMISS said the humanitarian situation in Aburoc was dire with a lack of clean water, food and health services as well as the threat of a significant cholera outbreak heading into the rainy season. The mission rapidly deployed 80 Rwandan peacekeepers to enable humanitarian workers to safely deliver aid to internally displaced families.

SOUNDBITE (English) Victoria Adhong, Acting Governor of Fashoda State:
“People are like okay they are scared and they are running out from here; but when they saw the UNMISS troops on the ground, they felt safe and they feel secure. It is like someone is protecting them in a way. So they are happy with that.”

UNMISS stressed that the combined efforts of peacekeepers and humanitarians in the remote and dangerous area have prevented a major cholera outbreak, potentially saving hundreds of lives. It said it will replicate the rapid peacekeeping response method across South Sudan if similar humanitarian crisis situations develop.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, United Nations:
“It’s something that we hadn’t done before. It’s something that our peacekeepers aren’t known for, getting into helicopters, flying in at very very short notice, establishing a base on the ground in a potentially hostile environment, and then getting on with the job of bringing others in to do that humanitarian work. It worked really well here and it has set a precedent and bit of a model for the rest of our peacekeeping troops to look at; and helped us to practice and get it all together. So I am very, very pleased about this. At the bottom line here, there are hundreds of people who are alive today who would not have been alive if we had not done this and that helps me sleep at night.”

About 10,000 internally displaced people remain in need of humanitarian assistance in Aburoc. UNMISS said it will continue to provide peacekeeping support through air patrols deployed from nearby Malakal.