4 March 2014 - To relocate displaced people at UNMISS Juba bases to better facilities ahead of coming rains, UNMISS, South Sudanese and Chinese representatives today signed a tripartite letter of endorsement on a new protection of civilians (PoC) site.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Charles Manyang, Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang and UNMISS Deputy Director of Mission Support Anne Marie van den Berg signed the agreement.

The South Sudanese government provided land for the 600,000 square metre site, which is adjacent to the UN House base in Jebel.

“What makes this agreement very important is that the rainy season is about to arrive and we would like our citizens who are not staying in their own houses not to be met with (rains) when they don’t have (adequate) shelter,” said Mr. Manyang.

“We will cooperate with the United Nations, but that does not construe in any way that the safety of our people will not be in the hands of our government,” he added.

Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang said, “It is good that we are making further efforts to help the South Sudanese people overcome difficulties. On the other hand, these kinds of difficulties should not have happened.”

The Ambassador said Chinese companies led by the China National Petroleum Corporation would provide machinery and funding of $1.6 million for the project, which is intended to accommodate over 10,000 people.

The Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Company will oversee construction alongside 11 UNMISS Chinese peacekeeping engineers, he said.

Ms. van den Berg said building the temporary site was “a true example of collaboration”.

“In our UNMISS compounds in Juba, we have almost 30,000 people … who fear to go home,” she said. “Very soon the rainy season will start and our compounds will not be safe because rain will enter into the areas where they are housed. That’s why we are working together… to make this new facility.”

She said the temporary site would have better shelter, drainage, sewage structures and other infrastructure, compared to the current PoC areas in UNMISS bases.

“When the people came, they settled where there was space,” said Ms. van den Berg. “Since then we have been trying to catch up … on an ad hoc … (basis) because people were settled everywhere. For this new location, we will have better planning and organization and people (will) have better facilities.”

Construction of the site will begin immediately and is expected to be completed in at about six weeks, said Ambassador Qiang, who also led a delegation for a ground-breaking ceremony at the actual site.

Emergency funding has also been made available by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).