SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA DISPLACED

According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, calm has returned to Tambura in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State, following weeks of heavy gunfire in and around town. UNMISS

• Video Length: 00:03:43
• Production Date: 27 December 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: PEACEKEEPERS; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 3326909
• Parent Id: 3326909
• Alternate Title: unifeed241227b

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA DISPLACED
TRT: 03:43
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: AZANDE / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 27 DECEMBER 2024, TAMBURA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, camps for internally displaced persons in Tambura.
2. SOUNDBITE (Azande) Monica Zeferina, displaced person from Tambura, Western Equatoria State:
“The war has displaced us; we have been here in the bush for about two weeks now. Many people have died in our village of Akpa, the hospital in our area is vandalized, our local leaders[chiefs] left the area, and so did we. We don’t know the armed men killing our people. We are still here. We cannot move because we don’t have any means of transport to carry our children to a safer area. It’s difficult for us.”
3. Wide shot, returnee sitting with her family
4. SOUNDBITE (Azande) Agnes John, displaced person from Tambura, Western Equatoria State:
“We are really suffering, being here in the bush with our children. Whenever I want to go and collect cassava leaves it is difficult. We just heard a gunshot, so now we are returning to our hiding place in the bush. The children have malaria, so I want to relocate them to a safe place because if the armed men come here now, they will slaughter us.”
5. Various shots, UNMISS team assessing situation of returnees
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Shams Sittique, Senior Military Observer, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
" At present, we are trying our best from the UNMISS side to monitor the situation; to carry on patrolling in the area, and we are trying to bring the situation under control. The situation of Tambura is not good. The outsiders’ people are coming from the bushes, they are firing shots, and they are going off to the bush again. So, people are really afraid of staying in Tambura, they are trying to leave Tambura. We are doing our best to keep the people’s faith and hope that things will get better."
7. Wide shot, pupils posing for photo

Storyline

According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), calm has returned to Tambura in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State, following weeks of heavy gunfire in and around town.

Thousands of people have fled their homes, bringing only the belongings they can carry.

In 2021, tensions here resulted in tens of thousands being displaced, while many others lost their lives.

Over the past few weeks, women, children, and the elderly have been seeking shelter next to an UNMISS temporary base in town.

Peacekeepers are on the ground, attempting to reduce tensions and doing everything they can to help ease their suffering.

Some 15 kilometers from Tambura, patrolling UN peacekeepers saw the devastation caused by the violent conflict.

Monica Zeferina, displaced person from Tambura, said, “The war has displaced us; we have been here in the bush for about two weeks now. Many people have died in our village of Akpa, the hospital in our area is vandalized, our local leaders[chiefs] left the area, and so did we. We don’t know the armed men killing our people. We are still here. We cannot move because we don’t have any means of transport to carry our children to a safer area. It’s difficult for us.”

The resurgence of conflict has led to despair among many of the newly displaced.

Agnes John, displaced person from Tambura, said, “We are really suffering, being here in the bush with our children. Whenever I want to go and collect cassava leaves it is difficult. We just heard a gunshot, so now we are returning to our hiding place in the bush. The children have malaria, so I want to relocate them to a safe place because if the armed men come here now, they will slaughter us.”

UNMISS and local authorities are doing everything they can to deescalate the situation and restore calm.

Colonel Shams Sittique, UNMISS Senior Military Observer, said, "At present, we are trying our best from the UNMISS side to monitor the situation; to carry on patrolling in the area, and we are trying to bring the situation under control. The situation of Tambura is not good. The outsiders’ people are coming from the bushes, they are firing shots, and they are going off to the bush again. So, people are really afraid of staying in Tambura, they are trying to leave Tambura. We are doing our best to keep the people’s faith and hope that things will get better."