4 February 2014 - Reinforcing the UNMISS military component in South Sudan, 266 Nepalese peacekeepers arrived in Juba today from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The contingent’s arrival followed an advance team of 25 Nepalese troops who arrived in the country in January from MINUSTAH to support the mission after an outbreak of violence on 15 December between pro- and anti-government forces.

The troops joined the mission in line with a Security Council resolution in December to increase the mission’s military component to make a total force of 12,500 troops.

“We are extremely grateful for the prompt response that Nepal has shown and has willingly accepted to provide UNMISS with an additional battalion at short notice,” said UNMISS Deputy Force Commander Asit Mistry.

He said the troops, who include 10 women, will originally be deployed at UN House in Juba, and deployment would then be adjusted “as per emerging situation”.

“I am confident that you will perform as well as the other Nepalese battalion … I wish all of you a safe and secure tenure here in South Sudan,” Brig. Gen. Mistry added.

The resolution to boost UNMISS troops was made in support of a recommendation by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to temporarily increase the overall force levels to support the mission in protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance.

On 9 January, UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous said the 5,500-strong surge in UN peacekeepers and equipment for South Sudan could take up to eight weeks to be fully deployed on the ground.