UNMISS chief shocked by ‘complete disregard for human life’

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan has told the Security Council that she has been shocked by what she calls a complete disregard for human life in the country.

Ellen Margrethe Løj said that without a political agreement, the situation on the ground will worsen.

Briefing the Council yesterday on the situation in South Sudan, Madam Ellen said the guns must be go silent and peace should not be delayed anymore.

“I’ve consistently conveyed to all my South Sudan interlocutors, including President Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar….that the guns must be silenced; peace cannot be delayed even for one more day,” Ms Margrethe said.

“There is no alternative to silencing the guns and concluding without further delay a comprehensive peace agreement in order to return the country towards the path of peace and stability.”

She said that the humanitarian situation remains dire across the country, with around four million people facing serious food insecurity.

The absence of a concrete peace deal, she said, complicates the work of the UN Mission in South Sudan.

Ms Margrethe urged the Security Council, regional leaders and all friends of South Sudan to remain fully engaged with the warring parties in order to make the necessary compromises for peace in the country.