Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoUnifeed
SOUTH SUDAN / HILDE JOHNSON
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / HILDE JOHNSON
TRT: 2.19
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 DECEMBER 2013, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
FILE - RECENT
1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters
DATELINE: 26 DECEMBER 2013, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
2. Wide shot, presser
3. Med shot, UN spokesperson and SRSG Hilde Johnson on screen
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan and Head of UNMISS:
“Let me underline this: all peacekeepers are under the instruction to use force when civilians are under imminent threat within their capabilities; and that is an instruction that also is there for those who are protecting our camps and the civilians seeking refuge there”.
5. Med shot, UN spokesperson and SRSG Hilde Johnson on screen
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan and Head of UNMISS:
“We have heard reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, mistreatment abuse and also mass graves”.
7. Med shot, UN spokesperson and SRSG Hilde Johnson on screen
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan and Head of UNMISS:
“Today OCHA, the humanitarian coordinator of the UN, called for an additional $166 million in emergency relief aid to provide clean water and sanitation, food, shelter, health care and livelihood assistance for those in dire need. Over all, it has been estimated that South Sudan needs 1.1 Billion in humanitarian aid”.
9. Wide shot, UN spokesperson and SRSG Hilde Johnson on screen
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Hilde Johnson, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan and Head of UNMISS:
“The diversity of this nation should not be a force of division. Diversity should be an asset of strength and a source of unity in the process of nation building. Today unity among South Sudanese is more important than ever and it is absolutely fundamental that the leaders of the country and all political forces and communities now put their own identity as South Sudanese first and not their own identity as members of a particular community. It is on that account that this country can move forward out of a situation of violence and strife and on to a peaceful track”.
11. Zoom out, presser
The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan Hilde Johnson told the media today (26 December) that UNMISS is “in desperate need for improved capacity and strength to be able to implement the mandate (to protect civilians) in a much more proactive way.”
In that sense, she welcomed this week Security Council’s resolution that authorized an increase of both peacekeepers and UN police by 5,500 and dispatch more military helicopters and assets to enhance the Mission’s capability to protect civilians.
In a video news conference from Juba, the South Sudanese capital, Johnson underscored that United Nations is in South Sudan to stay and to protect.
She underlined “all peacekeepers are under the instruction to use force when civilians are under imminent threat within their capabilities; and that is an instruction that also is there for those who are protecting our camps and the civilians seeking refuge there.”
The head of UNMISS added that the protection of civilian’s rights is essential and said “we have heard reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, mistreatment abuse and also mass graves.”
She noted that those reports and allegations are currently being investigated, adding that it is essential that all perpetrators of such violations are held accountable for their crimes.
On the Humanitarian front, she said that “today OCHA, the humanitarian coordinator of the UN, called for an additional $166 million in emergency relief aid to provide clean water and sanitation, food, shelter, health care and livelihood assistance for those in dire need. Overall, it has been estimated that South Sudan needs 1.1 Billion in humanitarian aid.”
Johnson added that the Mission currently provides food, shelter, water and other supplies to civilians in the UN compounds.
Finally, she noted that “the diversity of this nation should not be a force of division. Diversity should be an asset of strength and a source of unity in the process of nation building. Today unity among South Sudanese is more important than ever and it is absolutely fundamental that the leaders of the country and all political forces and communities now put their own identity as South Sudanese first and not their own identity as members of a particular community. It is on that account that this country can move forward out of a situation of violence and strife and on to a peaceful track.”
As the crisis in South Sudan evolves, aid agencies need US$166 million from now until March 2014 in order to address the immediate needs of people resulting from the past days’ violence. This includes emergency programmes for some 200,000 refugees from Sudan in Unity and Upper Nile states of South Sudan.
The humanitarian community in South Sudan has re-prioritized its work for the coming months, as set out in the South Sudan Consolidated Appeal 2014-2016. $166 million represents the most urgently required resources from the overall $1.1 billion programme set out by the aid community for 2014.
Tensions within South Sudan, the world’s youngest country which only gained independence in 2011 after seceding from Sudan, burst out into open conflict on 15 December when President Salva Kiir's Government said soldiers loyal to former deputy president Riek Machar, dismissed in July, launched an attempted coup. Mr. Kiir belongs to the Dinka ethnic group and Mr. Machar to the Lou Nuer. The conflict has been increasingly marked by reports of ethnically targeted violence.
Download
There is no media available to download.
