SUDAN / CHARPENTIER

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Georg Charpentier visits southern Sudan to see first hand local farming initiatives that are helping communities, once displaced by conflict, become more self-sufficient and less reliant on external relief. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:22
• Production Date: 30 March 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: CROP MANAGEMENT; NUTRITION
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U100330h

Description

STORY: SUDAN / CHARPENTIER
TRT: 2:22
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NAT

DATELINE: 27 MARCH 2010, SOUTHERN SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN agencies Georg Charpentier arriving in Akobo
2. Wide shot, Goi Jooyul Yol, Akobo County Commissioner with UN delegation
3. Med shot, vegetable farm run by Youth of Akobo
4. Wide shot, Georg Charpentier and Goi Jooyul Yol looking at the small farm
5. Wide shot, vegetable farm
7. Med shot, Georg Charpentier and Goi Jooyul Yol at vegetable farm
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Georg Charpentier, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations Agencies:
“These initiatives contribute to appeasing the tensions that exists between communities so it is a win-win situation definitely, if we can do more that is why the reason we should have other partners as well on the ground to support these in grown income generating initiatives and these initiatives that strengthen the capacity of the population of Akobo to develop themselves to respond themselves to the challenges every year rather than being totally dependent on external relief.”
9. Wide shot, Akobo river
10. Wide shot, fish market
11. Close-up, fish
12. Med shot, Goi Jooyul Yol talking with UN officials
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Goi Jooyul Yol, County Commissioner, Akobo:
“You know this year 2010 in fact is a good year for Akobo County. Last year we had all theses horrific incidents but with the disarmament being done from the youth there is great shift from tribal unrest to development. We have a lot of youth now getting involved in brick making and working in agricultural projects and I think that is a very positive note for development of Akobo.”
14. Med shot, Jonglei State governor Koul Manyang greeting Georg Charpentier
15. Wide shot, delegation walking

Storyline

Sudan’s new Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Sudan and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN Agencies, Georg Charpentier, said that he was encouraged by local initiatives towards self reliance during his first visit to Southern Sudan on Saturday (27 March).
Charpentier visited a vegetable farm, managed by a group of youth in Akobo, where he witnessed how communities in the South are engaged in food production.

The vegetable farm is used as income generating project where some of the produce is sold in the market. Charpentier also visited a fish market which has become very popular with the community in Akobo. The Akobo river offers an improved diet supplement to the community.

In the past two years the community of Akobo has faced displacement, unrest and inter-ethnic clashes which killed hundreds of people, mainly women and children.

Speaking in Bor town, after visiting Akobo, Charpentier said the visit had given him a vivid picture of the situation on ground which in turn will help the UN plan humanitarian assistance needed to help the people in the region.

He added that he was impressed by people’s dedication to attain self sufficiency through engaging in various economic activities such as farming.

SOUNDBITE (English) Georg Charpentier, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations Agencies:
“These initiatives contribute to appeasing the tensions that exists between communities so it is a win-win situation definitely, if we can do more that is why the reason we should have other partners as well on the ground to support these in grown income generating initiatives and these initiatives that strengthen the capacity of the population of Akobo to develop themselves to respond themselves to the challenges every year rather than being totally dependent on external relief.”

Akobo County Commissioner Goi Jooyul Yol said that security situation has improved tremendously and people of Akobo are starting a disarmament exercise in the state.

SOUNDBITE (English) Goi Jooyul Yol, County Commissioner, Akobo:
“You know this year 2010 in fact is a good year for Akobo County. Last year we had all theses horrific incidents but with the disarmament being done from the youth there is great shift from tribal unrest to development. We have a lot of youth now getting involved in brick making and working in agricultural projects and I think that is a very positive note for development of Akobo.”

The Jonglei State governor Koul Manyang commended the intervention of the UN in supporting the people of Jonglei State during the times of difficulties. He was speaking after a meeting with Charpentier in Bor town. Manyang said that the UN needs to assist the State towards self reliance with primary emphasis on road construction.

The UN mission in Sudan remains encouraged by the relationship between the UN bodies and local authorities which gives the UN personnel on ground freedom and support in carrying out their responsibility.