Urging All Parties to Keep Civilians, Relief Personnel Safe, Secretary-General

 

Demands Investigation into Killing of Humanitarian Staff in South Sudan

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern at the dire humanitarian situation across South Sudan.  He condemns in the strongest terms the recent killing of five South Sudanese employees of humanitarian non-governmental organizations in Maban County, Upper Nile State.  The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to their bereaved families.

The Secretary-General demands that the relevant authorities conduct a full investigation into these tragic events.  He calls on all armed forces and groups in South Sudan to do their utmost to keep relief personnel and civilians safe from harm.

The Secretary-General reiterates that there is no military solution to the crisis in South Sudan and calls upon the parties to immediately cease their military operations and demonstrate the political will to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

He welcomes the resumption, on 4 August, of the talks in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).  He urges the parties to seriously and fully engage in a meaningful dialogue, to tangibly advance the political process and to implement without further delay the Agreements they signed on 23 January 2014 — and recommitted to on 9 May 2014 — notably a cessation of hostilities.

The Secretary-General welcomes the visit of the United Nations Security Council to South Sudan and the region in August.  This visit will bring international attention to the dire humanitarian situation as well as the plight of the South Sudanese people.  It will further signal to the leadership of both parties the significance the Security Council places on the peaceful resolution of this conflict.

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For information media • not an official record