9 April 2013- The mandate of UNMISS does not include the defense of South Sudan's international boundaries or the monitoring of its border with Sudan, UNMISS staff members said at a community outreach event held today in Aweil North County in Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.

Aweil North County Commissioner Kuol Athuai Hal opened the day-long workshop in the town of Gok Machar by noting that his fellow residents had suffered considerable hardships during the second Sudanese civil war and urged UNMISS representatives to hear their concerns.

Five people died during ground and air attacks on remote communities in Northern Bahr El-Ghazal last December, and some participants in this week's conference asked why UNMISS was not doing more to monitor movements of suspected militia elements across the border with Sudan.

UNMISS staff members told the gathering of 67 Aweil North residents that responsibility for monitoring the international border lies with the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) and the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism established by the governments of Sudan and South Sudan.

Conference participants were advised that UNISFA is in the process of setting up a base in Gok Machar.

Different sections of the UNMISS office in Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State reviewed the official mandate of UNMISS and explained the Mission's work in various areas such as peace consolidation efforts, support to government bodies engaged in institution building, and the protection of civilians under imminent danger of physical violence.

"People perceive (UNMISS) activities according to their expectations. They expect UNMISS to (protect) them from attack, be it air attacks or border disputes," said UNMISS Public Information Officer Negus Hadera. "This clearly was discussed with them and they came up with a clear understanding of what UNMISS (does)."

The participants included county officials, paramount chiefs, members of South Sudanese security services, elders, representatives of youth and women's groups, and members of community-based organizations.