The event was briefed by UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowock and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer.

Quy also welcomed the government of South Sudan’s role in brokering peace agreements for neigbouring Sudan. South Sudan’s efforts are very encouraging though the country has been challenged by various issues, particularly COVID-19, flooding and food shortages, he said.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN. (Photo: VNA).

He said the ceasefire has been fundamentally abided in South Sudan, calling on its government to adopt effective solutions to end violence among local communities.

The Vietnamese diplomat underscored the significance of transitional period and full implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement in South Sudan, based on which the UNSC sanctions against the nation to be reviewed in December.

He also highly spoke of the UNSC, UNMISS and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in promoting peace and development in South Sudan, stressing that Vietnam will further contribute to the UNMISS activities.

Shearer said the transitional government continues to function and activities are progressing well as ministers and state governors have been appointed.

Yet, he voiced concerns over local conflicts, saying that UNMISS documented 575 incidents of subnational violence from January to July, a year-on-year increase of 300%. “In Jonglei state alone, 600 people were killed in six months, women and children were kidnapped, thousands fled their homes as they were looted and torched.”

Echoing Shearer’s view, Lowock said humanitarian needs, already high after years of conflict, are again rising due to more violence, flooding and COVID-19, which brings a host of health and wider consequences, including increasing flood insecurity.

The UNMISS head emphasised that his organisation maintains its clear mandate to protect civilians and will intervene if necessary.

UNMISS was founded by the UNSC in July, 2011, to protect civilians, create conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, support the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement and peace process, and monitor and investigate human rights in South Sudan.

Vietnam has sent 68 military personnels to the UNMISS and set up a Level-2 field hospital in Bentiu, South Sudan, in 2018.