New Nepal police team heading for Bentiu

15 Jan 2014

New Nepal police team heading for Bentiu

15 January 2014 - Sending a new team of UN Police officers to the Unity State capital Bentiu would help UNMISS to better protect civilians seeking refuge in its base, UN Police Commissioner Fred Yiga said in Juba today.

“You are not military police or a rapid response team,” said Mr. Yiga, while addressing a new team of Nepalese officers who arrived from the UN Mission in Liberia yesterday. “Your duty is to patrol the camps and make sure that there is order.”

Following a 24 December Security Council resolution to increase the mission’s police component from 900 to 1,323, two Bangladeshi Formed Police Units were temporarily deployed from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Jonglei State capital Bor and Upper Nile State capital Malakal.

Mr. Yiga said the new team of 57 officers from Nepal was part of the third Formed Police Unit, adding that the arrival of another 84 officers at the end of the week would mark completion of police reinforcement as recommended by the Council.

“People here run to us. You are here to protect humanity,” he said. “Pay particular attention to women, children and other vulnerable groups.”

The Police Commissioner urged the Nepalese officers to dedicate themselves to their work, stating the mission hoped the situation will have improved by the time they return to their original UN missions.