Free movement in support of South Sudanese civilians crucial, says head of UNMISS
{"Image ImageDescription": "It is imperative for UN peacekeepers to move freely and without any hindrance so they can carry out their mandate, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), David Shearer said on Tuesday in a speech to senior commanders from South Sudan People\u2019s Defence Force (SSPDF). \nShearer brought to the fore a recent incident in which a convoy delivering humanitarian assistance from Torit to Kapoeta was held for almost a week, pending various permissions to proceed.\n\u201cFor six days, we waited for an SOI (Statement of Information \u2013 which is normally shared between SSPDF and UNMISS to aid in free movement) so the force could accompany the World Food Program (WFP) convoy to Kapoeta,\u201d he said.\n\u201cPeople were waiting for the food. They couldn\u2019t get the food because they [peacekeepers] couldn\u2019t get clearance on the ground...\u201d explained the head of UNMISS. \n\u201cWe are here to help and support the people and civilians of South Sudan,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are not here to impede your operations, we are not here to spy on you, we are here to help and support the people and civilians of South Sudan,\u201d he said. \nUNMISS peacekeepers have been in South Sudan since the country\u2019s independence in 2011, working on various changing mandates. \n\u201cWe have a good relationship with the JVMM. On the whole, I believe that cooperation and the good work that goes on is a testament to the way you yourselves and the UN, are able to work together for the common good,\u201d he said.\nSpeaking on behalf of SSPDF, Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant-General Gabriel Jok Riak said dialoguing was important to help reach viable solutions for the sake of peace. He encouraged that any problematic issues arising need to be discussed.   \n\u201cLet us open a new page. Let us agree. There should be no conflict between the two [United Nations Mission in South Sudan and South Sudanese],\u201d said Lieutenant-General Riak, who added that his country appreciated the work of the UN in previous years and currently, as it supports the implementation of the peace agreement.\n\u201cWe will try our best as South Sudanese to fully cooperate with the UN, as we also want to be part of peacekeeping,\u201d said Lieutenant-General Riak.\nUN Photo: Isaac Billy", "Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon EOS-1D X Mark II", "Image XResolution": "300", "Image YResolution": "300", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.6 (Macintosh)", "Image DateTime": "2019:06:11 18:56:17", "Image Artist": "UN Photo: Isaac Billy", "Image ExifOffset": "2508", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/50", "EXIF FNumber": "9", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Manual", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "10000", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF RecommendedExposureIndex": "10000", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2019:06:11 08:36:12", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2019:06:11 08:36:12", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "352741/62500", "EXIF ApertureValue": "126797/20000", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "4", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "280", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "75", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "75", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "2736000/719", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "1824000/479", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "2", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Manual Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF BodySerialNumber": "032011002276", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[98, 280, 0/0, 0/0]", "EXIF LensModel": "EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM +1.4x", "EXIF LensSerialNumber": "0000c29e94"}