SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA FOOD DISTRIBUTION

A humanitarian convoy loaded with food and supplies for communities desperate for support arrived at the township of Tambura in the Western Equatoria region of South Sudan, delivering aid to hundreds of people who were forced to flee their homes during recent violence and are now in dire need of food and shelter as well as protection. UNMISS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:20
• Production Date: 16 July 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: FOOD DISTRIBUTION; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 2551229
• Parent Id: 2551229
• Alternate Title: unifeed200716c

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA FOOD DISTRIBUTION
TRT: 02:20
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / AMHARIC / NATS

DATELINE: 04 JUNE 2020, TAMBURA / 15 JULY 2020, YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, humanitarian convoy arriving in Tambura supported by UNMISS peacekeepers
2. Various shots, food distribution in Tambura.
3. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Maj. Gebremichael Lema Gebresilassie, UNMISS Peacekeeper from Ethiopia:
“We have mainly facilitated humanitarian aid distribution to the internally displaced people by providing the necessary force protection. The patrolling was successful in getting a violent situation under full control. Peace, security, and stability was restored. Tambura is now relatively calm and stable.”
4. Various shots, food distribution
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Salvatore, Western Equatoria Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Director:
“For food, they distributed maize cereal and oil – this distribution was for 15 days. But now, according the report that the situation has gone back to normal, all these IDPs have returned to their places, and there is no insecurity anymore.”
6. Various Shots, convoy making its way along flooded roads and fixing vehicles after they broke down
7. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Maj. Gebremichael Lema Gebresilassie, UNMISS Peacekeeper from Ethiopia:
“The biggest challenge we faced during this patrol has to do with the road infrastructure which is very poor. The rainy season has made it even worse. With a single trip, we had 11 vehicles that broke down but, thanks to our mechanics on board, they fixed them, and we kept rolling.”
8. Pan right, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) travelling along road during patrol

Storyline

A humanitarian convoy loaded with food and supplies for communities desperate for support arrived at the township of Tambura in the Western Equatoria region of South Sudan, delivering aid to hundreds of people who were forced to flee their homes during recent violence and are now in dire need of food and shelter as well as protection.

The convoy was supported by a battalion of Ethiopian peacekeepers and military liaison officers who are there to deter further violence and provide crowd control so the much-needed humanitarian assistance can be off-loaded and distributed safely.

SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Maj. Gebremichael Lema Gebresilassie, UNMISS Peacekeeper from Ethiopia:
“We have mainly facilitated humanitarian aid distribution to the internally displaced people by providing the necessary force protection. The patrolling was successful in getting a violent situation under full control. Peace, security, and stability was restored. Tambura is now relatively calm and stable.”

911 households and 5,466 individuals were displaced during the clashes, forced to leave their homes and belongings behind. The situation is now calm and those affected are beginning to return but they need support as they start the long process of recovery.

SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Salvatore, Western Equatoria Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Director:
“For food, they distributed maize cereal and oil – this distribution was for 15 days. But now, according the report that the situation has gone back to normal, all these IDPs have returned to their places, and there is no insecurity anymore.”

Despite restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 and the challenges of navigating almost impassable roads during the rainy season, UNMISS peacekeepers are carrying on their duties to prevent further fighting and help communities return to normal life in Western Equatoria.

SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Maj. Gebremichael Lema Gebresilassie, UNMISS Peacekeeper from Ethiopia:
“The biggest challenge we faced during this patrol has to do with the road infrastructure which is very poor. The rainy season has made it even worse. With a single trip, we had 11 vehicles that broke down but, thanks to our mechanics on board, they fixed them, and we kept rolling.”

In addition to protection, UNMISS has been engaging with local political and community leaders to support reconciliation and peace-building activities. The focus is on restoring trust and confidence between ethnic and communal groups to prevent further conflict and enable the people of Western Equatoria to get on with rebuilding their lives.