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Juba / Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
Catherine Pollard, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, visited Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and spent two days in Upper Nile, where there is a site dedicated to protecting and supporting civilians displaced by armed conflict and flooding.
Catherine reaffirmed the organization’s solidarity and support for the people of South Sudan. During her four-day stay, she engaged with the leadership of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNMISS), the wider UN family, government authorities, and key partners in the peace process to strengthen cooperation and achieve positive change.
As the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance, Pollard leads her management team across all administrative areas through an integrated global strategy. She utilizes enhanced monitoring, evaluation, and accountability mechanisms to ensure efficiency and transparency within the organization.
Catherine held continuous meetings with United Nations Police (UNPOL) officers stationed near the UN Protection of Civilians site, where more than 42,000 displaced people reside, to assess the security situation and understand the impact of the UN mission’s work in the region.
She also visited the new police station next to the residential area near Malakal Airport, which is vital to ensuring the safety of local communities.
At the end of her meeting with senior government officials and state authorities, Catherine Pollard stated, “We will mobilize support and work with our counterparts in the state government to prioritize needs and provide the assistance that the government of Upper Nile State requires. UNMISS is here, and the United Nations is here. We stand in full solidarity with you.”
After observing the severe impact of climate change on roads due to heavy rains, the Head of the UNMISS Malakal Field Office, Alfred Orono Orono, assured the Under-Secretary-General that Indian peacekeeping engineers are actively working to build and repair roads and clean drainage systems in Malakal. He added, “We are working hard to help those displaced by flooding return to their homes, while also supporting those who have lived in the UN Protection of Civilians camp for over 10 years. Many are tired and eager to return, and we are partnering with the government and humanitarian organizations.”
Upon returning to Juba, Catherine Pollard urged UN personnel to make every effort to achieve peace in South Sudan and to uphold the organization’s core values and standards.
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