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UN / SOUTH SUDAN
STORY: UN / SOUTH SUDAN
TRT: 1.34
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 20 DECEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Tilt up, exterior United Nations headquarters
20 DECEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, French ambassador Araud approaching the stakeout position.
3. Close up, camera
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations:
“The members of the Security Council stressed the necessity for all parties to reject this violence in all its forms and to resolve disagreements peacefully, and called on President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to demonstrate leadership in bringing a swift and peaceful resolution to this crisis by calling for a cessation of hostilities and immediately commencing a dialogue. They called on all parties to protect detainees.”
5. Close up, reporter typing on computer
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations:
“The members of the Council condemned reported human rights violations and abuses by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces, and emphasized that those responsible for any violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be held accountable”.
7. Close up, journalist’s notepad
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations:
“It’s a political crisis basically. First, it’s a political crisis within the leadership of the SPLM, but as I said you have the political crisis and you have a powder keg, which is the ethnic question. So, the political crisis could lead to generate a civil war if we don’t solve very quickly the political crisis through dialogue”.
9. Close up, journalist typing mobile phone
10. Wide shot, French ambassador Araud walks away the stakeout position.
The members of the Security Council expressed today (20 December) “grave alarm and concern” regarding the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, which threatens “serious” implications for the long-term security and stability of the African country, as well as for the neighbouring nations and the region.
In a press statement, the Security Council strongly condemned the fighting and targeted violence against civilians and specific ethnic and other communities across the country, including the attack by 2,000 armed youth on the UN Mission base in Akobo yesterday (19 December), which resulted in the death of at least 20 civilians and two Indian peacekeepers.
Speaking to the media, the president of the Security Council, ambassador Araud of France, said that “the members of the Security Council stressed the necessity for all parties to reject this violence in all its forms and to resolve disagreements peacefully, and called on President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to demonstrate leadership in bringing a swift and peaceful resolution to this crisis by calling for a cessation of hostilities and immediately commencing a dialogue. They called on all parties to protect detainees.”
He added that “the members of the Council condemned reported human rights violations and abuses by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces, and emphasized that those responsible for any violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be held accountable”.
The members of the Security Council called on all relevant States and organizations to use their influence with South Sudanese political leaders to bring about an end to the violence and initiate reconciliation.
In this regard, the Security Council welcomed the Intergovernamental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministerial Group’s swift initiative, as supported by the United Nations and African Union, in seeking to open the dialogue and mediate between key leaders.
The president of the Security Council added that “it’s a political crisis basically. First, it’s a political crisis within the leadership of the SPLM, but as I said you have the political crisis and you have a powder keg, which is the ethnic question. So, the political crisis could lead to generate a civil war if we don’t solve very quickly the political crisis through dialogue”.
Earlier today, UNMISS confirmed that at least 11 civilians seeking refuge at its base in Jonglei State were killed in an attack yesterday, in which also two peacekeepers died and a third one is reported to be in stable condition.
“While trying to open negotiations with the assailants, UNMISS peacekeepers stationed inside the compound came under sustained attack,” the Mission said releasing details of what happened at the base in Akobo Town.
The bodies of the two peacekeepers, from the Mission’s Indian battalion, have been transported today to the capital of Juba. The third soldier from the battalion continues to receive medical aid for a chest wound at the UNMISS facility in Malakal.
The UN has sent aircraft early this morning to evacuate its remaining personnel from the base along with seven South Sudanese civilians and a dozen staff members from non-governmental organizations.
The base is now under the protection and control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) who helped to squelch the takeover, after assailants seized weapons, ammunition and other supplies from the UN.
The Mission today stressed that it would support all efforts to bring the perpetrators of “this heinous crime” to justice. It has also said that it is doing everything it can, within its means and in a very fluid situation, to protect civilians, as well as UN and international personnel on the ground.
Meanwhile, operations are underway to evacuate 40 UNMISS peacekeepers from a base in Yuai, also in Jonglei.
In in the Juba area, the UN humanitarian arm announced that it had carried out rapid humanitarian needs assessments in eight locations around the town, focusing on protection of civilians.
Some areas of Juba are deserted, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, but there are concentrations of displaced people.
The main priorities for the people gathered at the UNMISS bases – believed to number at least 34,000 – are emergency latrines, hygiene, water purification, emergency food, primary health facilities and nutrition screening.
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