11 December 2014 - As the peace process in South Sudan continued to delay, the international community’s patience with both parties to the conflict was wearing thin, the UNMISS chief said at a press conference in Juba today.

“Their leaders must inject a new sense of urgency into the peace process in order to reach a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible,” said Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Ellen Loej.

“We sincerely hope that representatives of both parties at the peace talks will return to the negotiating table with a heightened sense of responsibility and openness to compromise.”

Describing the past year in the country as a “tough and challenging one”, the SRSG said she hoped peace would come through “for all of us here in South Sudan and in particular for the suffering people”.

The UNMISS chief stressed that the protection sites were never intended to become permanent settlements, although opening the mission’s bases to civilians facing a threat of physical violence had saved many lives.

“We need to focus more on fostering a safe and secure environment outside the UN camps that will enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to leave UNMISS compounds and start their lives anew – all on a voluntary basis,” said Ms. Loej.

UNMISS had closed down its protection site in the Lakes State capital Rumbek after finding alternative living arrangements for civilians who were still sheltered at that location, she said.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) revealed that another protection site in Juba would also be closed by the end of December.

“All services to the protection site in Tomping will be halted at the end of this month,” she said. “We hope that the remaining IDPs will either go back home or relocate to a site near Yei Road.”

Ms. Loej added that UNMISS would support South Sudan National Police Service in its pilot programme to encourage IDPs in Juba protection sites to return to three specific neighbourhoods.

The SRSG however reminded the government that it still had the primary responsibility to provide security for South Sudanese citizens.

Accountability remained a key issue in South Sudan, Ms. Loej said, as she focused on the mission’s role in monitoring and reporting on human rights violations.

“A legacy of impunity for serious human rights violations in the past has contributed to the current crisis,” she said. “This legacy must stop. And, stop now.”

She also said the mission was continuing to work on conflict mitigation and resolution with communities throughout South Sudan, especially in Warrap and Lakes states, where she said inter-communal revenge killings were affecting many lives, particularly women and children.

The SRSG noted that the overall humanitarian situation remained dire, although a much-feared famine had been averted, with the number of South Sudanese targeted for humanitarian aid next year expected to surpass the four million mark.