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UN PhotoSOUTH SUDAN / EBOLA PREPAREDNESS
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / EBOLA PREPAREDNESS
TRT: 04:49
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 17 AUGUST 2026, YAMBIO AND NABIAPAI, WESTERN EQUATORIA STATE, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Wide shot, UN aircraft arriving at Yambio airstrip
2. Various shots, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ramanathan Balakrishnan and delegation arriving at Yambio airstrip
3. Various shots, Balakrishnan meeting Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa and members of the State Government
4. Med shot, DSRSG and Governor seated during meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramanathan Balakrishnan, Ad Interim Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, United Nations:
“We discussed about how do we take the partnership with the government ahead, particularly in the areas of support to sustaining the peace and humanitarian response. In particular, we discussed the safety and security of the humanitarian response and how do we ensure that humanitarian response reaches those who are in need. We also talked about the Ebola preparedness and the support that would be expected from the state authorities on improving the Ebola preparedness of the state.”
6. Various shots, Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa interacting with the DSRSG and humanitarian delegation
7. Close up, Governor speaking during the meeting
8. Wide shot, government and UN officials seated together
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa, Governor, Western Equatoria State:
“We have had a very fruitful meeting in the areas of our partnership and working together to consolidate the peace in Western Equatoria, and also to see how the humanitarian and development activities can move forward, especially the issue of Ebola has been deeply discussed. Ebola is not yet in South Sudan, but we must do everything in our preparedness to prevent Ebola from entering South Sudan. And we are working together and we have strengthened and depend on our cooperation, coordination and partnerships.”
10. Various shots, convoy travelling towards Nabiapai border point
11. Wide shot, Nabiapai border market and movement of people
12. Various shots, frontline health workers conducting screening
13. Various shots, screening equipment and registration activities
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Severio Peter, Frontline Health Worker, Nabiapai Border:
“We screen more than 800 to 1,000 people at this border. Today [Friday] is going to be the busiest day. After this afternoon up to tomorrow, people will be coming to the market, up to Sunday, the busiest days. But on working days, from Monday to Thursday, we see an average of 200 to 500 people. And the threat that we face here is the porous entries.”
15. Various shots, DSRSG and delegation receiving briefing from frontline health workers
16. Medium shot, Minister of Health Nama Bukulu inspecting the screening area
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Nama Bukulu, Minister of Health, Western Equatoria State:
“We have to add more surveillance, especially at the checkpoint, because we have the challenge that there are some people also coming at late hours. So, we have to prepare so that the surveillance also has shifts, so that these people at night have to be checked or screened.”
18. Various shots, Nabiapai border community and market
19. Various shots, frontline health workers continuing screening operations
20. Various shots, DSRSG delegation interacting with health workers and community members.
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramanathan Balakrishnan, Ad Interim Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, United Nations:
“We had a chance to interact with the frontline workers of Ebola preparedness. I got to see the level of preparedness that was being put in place at the points of entry. We do have some improvements to make. But I'm very happy about the state of preparedness that we have. And I think we have come a long way. And I think with the support and the collaboration from all actors in the field, we will be able to further improve our Ebola preparedness and be ready for the response when it is required.”
22. Wide shot, delegation departing Yambio.
A high-level United Nations delegation led by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, visited Western Equatoria to strengthen cooperation with state authorities in support of peace, the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, and Ebola preparedness.
Balakrishnan said, “We discussed about how do we take the partnership with the government ahead, particularly in the areas of support to sustaining the peace and humanitarian response. In particular, we discussed the safety and security of the humanitarian response and how do we ensure that humanitarian response reaches those who are in need. We also talked about the Ebola preparedness and the support that would be expected from the State authorities on improving the Ebola preparedness of the State.”
While no Ebola cases have been confirmed in South Sudan, authorities say strengthening prevention, surveillance and coordination remain critical to preventing the deadly disease from entering the country across its porous borders with neighbouring countries.
Badagbu Rimbasa, Governor of Western Equatoria State, said, “We have had a very fruitful meeting in the areas of our partnership and working together to consolidate the peace in Western Equatoria, and also to see how the humanitarian and development activities can move forward, especially the issue of Ebola has been deeply discussed. Ebola is not yet in South Sudan, but we must do everything in our preparedness to prevent Ebola from entering South Sudan. And we are working together and we have strengthened and depend on our cooperation, coordination and partnerships.”
The delegation visited Nabiapai, a busy border crossing and market between South Sudan and the DRC, to assess Ebola preparedness. Health workers say daily crossings increase significantly on market days, while informal routes make screening more difficult.
Severio Peter, Nabiapai Border health worker, said “We screen more than 800 to 1,000 people at this border. Today [Friday] is going to be the busiest day. After this afternoon up to tomorrow, people will be coming to the market, up to Sunday, the busiest days. But on working days, from Monday to Thursday, we see an average of 200 to 500 people. And the threat that we face here is the porous entries.”
Given the threat, authorities say surveillance must be stepped up.
Nama Bukulu, Minister of Health in Western Equatoria State, said, “We have to add more surveillance, especially at the checkpoint, because we have the challenge that there are some people also coming at late hours. So, we have to prepare so that the surveillance also has shifts, so that these people at night have to be checked or screened.”
For border communities, Ebola concerns have already affected daily routines, with some residents reducing cross-border movement and calling for greater support for prevention.
Ramanathan Balakrishnan, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said, “We do have some improvements to make. But I'm very happy about the state of preparedness that we have. And I think we have come a long way. And I think with the support and the collaboration from all actors in the field, we will be able to further improve our Ebola preparedness and be ready for the response when it is required.”
The visit underscored the importance of strong coordination between the UN family and Western Equatorian authorities to protect communities, sustain humanitarian operations, and strengthen preparedness for public health threats.
