The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to allow humanitarian assistance to reach communities in need.

Ladsous arrived in the country this morning and met with First Vice President Taban Deng Gai in Juba. 

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the UN Peacekeeping chief said that aid delivery can only resume fully when there is no fighting.

“The sincere hope is that aid delivery can restart, and that have to start with the cessation of hostilities. A national dialogue as proposed by the president can certainly help, but it cannot be a substitute to the resumption of the peace process”, Mr. Ladsous said.  

The press secretary of the first vice president, Gai Choul Laam, said the meeting between the UN Peacekeeping chief and Taban Deng Gai covered the implementation of the peace agreement and other issues pertaining to the peace process. Their discussion also included the security situation, the issue of access to different part of the country and possible UN support to the national dialogue initiative.

“The first vice president gave his assurance that the government would like the UN to support the government in the issues pertaining to the implementation (of the peace agreement) as well as the basic understanding that the government will implement the peace agreement”, Gai Choul Laam said.

Under-Secretary-General Ladsous is in the country for a two-day official visit before he leaves his office at the end of this month, after six years on his post. He arrived in Juba with the Under-Secretary-General designate, Jean-Pierre Lacroix who takes office on 1st April. The two top officials also had a meeting with the UNMISS leadership.