New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamesemission to the UN, highly valued encouragingdevelopments in South Sudan since the formation of the Transitional Governmentthis year, during a UNSecurity Council (UNSC) video teleconference on the situation in the Africancountry on September 16.

The event wasbriefed by UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and EmergencyRelief Coordinator Mark Lowcock and Special Representative of theSecretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) DavidShearer.

Quy also welcomedthe government of South Sudan’s role in brokering peace agreements forneigbouring Sudan. South Sudan’s efforts are very encouraging though thecountry has been challenged by various issues, particularly COVID-19, floodingand food shortages, he said.

He said theceasefire has been fundamentally abided in South Sudan, calling on itsgovernment to adopt effective solutions to end violence among localcommunities.

The Vietnamesediplomat underscored the significance of transitional period and fullimplementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement in South Sudan, based onwhich the UNSC sanctions against the nation to be reviewed in December.

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

Shearer saidthe transitional government continues to function and activities areprogressing well as ministers and state governors have been appointed.

Yet, he voicedconcerns over local conflicts, saying that UNMISS documented 575 incidents ofsubnational violence from January to July, a year-on-year increase of 300percent. “In Jonglei state alone, 600 people were killed in six months, womenand children were kidnapped, thousands fled their homes as they were looted andtorched.”

EchoingShearer’s view, Lowcock said humanitarian needs, already high after years ofconflict, are again rising due to more violence, flooding and COVID-19, whichbrings a host of health andwider consequences, including increasing flood insecurity.

The UNMISS head emphasised that his organisationmaintains its clear mandate to protect civilians and will intervene ifnecessary.

UNMISS wasfounded by the UNSC in July, 2011, to protect civilians, create conditions conducive to the delivery ofhumanitarian assistance, support the implementation of the Revitalised PeaceAgreement and peace process, and monitor and investigate human rights in SouthSudan.

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