UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are delaying the deployment of new United Nations (UN) police units in Abyei and the border regions between Sudan and South Sudan, UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.
While updating the Council on the work of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the security situation remains volatile at the local level, citing the rising tensions between the pastoral Ngok Dinka and nomadic Misseriya communities, as well growing criminality and the presence of armed elements, including some that have exchanged gunfire with UNISFA troops.
Abyei is a border town in the Abyei Area that is disputed by Sudan and South Sudan.
Lacroix said that although the relations between Sudan and South Sudan have improved, progress will unlikely be made in determining the final status of the disputed territory that is administered in effect as part of both states, as the African Union Commission and the African Union's High-Level Implementation Panel are stretched dealing with other priorities.
As a result, Lacroix said, the deployment of three formed police units (FPUs) is facing "serious delays" due to travel restrictions the Sudanese government put into place to combat the novel coronavirus.
"The process for the deployment of the first identified FPU from Ethiopia was well advanced by early March with the completion of the pre-deployment visit to the Mission area," he told Council members during a video-teleconference.
"However, all further steps had to be suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak," he said, adding that while no cases of the virus have been recorded among UNISFA personnel, medical teams are visiting all team sites and sectors to verify the mission's state of preparedness.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday reported a total of 275 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths in Sudan, and six confirmed cases with no deaths in South Sudan.
Established by the Council through Resolution 1990 (2011), UNISFA is mandated to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence and to protect the area from incursions by unauthorized elements and ensure security.
Lacroix said the months ahead will no doubt pose new and unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but UNISFA will keep engaging with Khartoum and Juba to facilitate the implementation of both previous agreements and the mission's mandate. Enditem
