23 December 2014 - UNMISS today destroyed weapons confiscated from displaced people seeking shelter in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

Lt. Col. Ruben Juma, commanding officer of the Kenyan contingent in Wau, said the 290 items included bullets, army uniforms, knives and other military items.

Weapons and crude objects were destroyed with an electrical grinder, while bullet rounds, gun powder and clothing were burnt.

“The deactivated weapons and ammunition will be handed over to WAU MSD (Mission Support Division) for safe custody,” Lt. Col. Juma said.

“We have destroyed these weapons and military items in accordance with the plan set by UNMISS,” he added. “UNMISS wants PoC sites free of any forms of weapons and will continue monitoring to ensure the security of the IDPs.”

Witnesses of the weapons’ destruction included UNMISS State Coordinator Officer-in-Charge Bernard Brima, UNMISS Sector Commander Brig. Gen. George Kabugi and representatives of the South Sudanese army, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and UNMISS military.

The weapons were destroyed according to UNMAS standards in a safe site on the mission compound.