UNMISS chief worried about increasing intercommunal violence, calls for calm
Families flee intercommunal violence in Roc-Rocdong, (Photo: AP)
Dec 10th, 2019 (SSNN)-The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, expresses deep concern about the recent intercommunal clashes reported in various parts of the country over the weekend.
“These clashes in areas that have been relatively calm for many months is worrying,” said UNMISS chief David Shearer.
“The parties in South Sudan have respected the ceasefire signed in 2018 but these intercommunal incidents raise tensions and increase the risk of sparking more serious violence,” he noted.
The UN official underlined that the ongoing floods that have affected millions of people and continue to wreak havoc, will destroy crops, thus causing food scarcity.
“The recent flooding has worsened this situation by destroying crops and pasture which will have a long-term impact on food availability in the coming months,” he said.
Shearer stressed that the current food insecurity and lack of basic necessities should not make people so frustrated that they resort to violence.
“It is vital that people do not turn to violence as a solution to the dire economic situation or because of political uncertainty. Reconciliation and peace-building is the only viable path to development and, ultimately, prosperity for all South Sudanese,” he pointed out.
In recent days, there have been reports of intercommunal clashes in various areas of South Sudan.
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