23 May 2014 - To provide better security at the civilian protection site at UNMISS in Bentiu, Unity State, the mission and partners concluded training a community watch group today.

UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Samuel Sarpong said the three-day training, attended by 60 internally displaced persons (IDPS), would help UNMISS and community members identify problems among IDPs.

“The training … is to enable these selected people who formed the group to be able to support UNMISS partners, especially UNPOL (UN Police) and DSS (Department of Safety and Security), even the humanitarian agencies, to be able to manage the security situation in the camp,” Mr. Sarpong said.

Training participant Simon Kang said that the group would work with UN Police and all actors in the camps to improve the security in the camp

“What the UN wants from us is to report any evidence that we have seen within the community. We watch and we report to the UNPOL,” Mr. Kang said.

The training was organized in response to a rise in the number of conflicts, crime, violence and a general deterioration in security in the protection area.