Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian peacekeepers protect humanitarians attacked by angry youths in Jam Jang
Society
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Mongolian peacekeepers have acted
quickly to protect humanitarian workers who were attacked by angry youths
during a demonstration in the remote area of Jam Jang in the Unity region of
South Sudan.
On Saturday morning, approximately 50 youth began a violent
demonstration about the hiring of workers from outside the local area by a
non-governmental organization based in Jam Jang. They stormed the
organization's compound and injured several staff.
As soon as reports of the attack were received, Mongolian
troops serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in nearby Pariang
deployed a quick reaction force to protect the humanitarian workers, prevent
further violence, and ensure that those who were injured received medical care.
The peacekeeping team later reinforced their presence with
additional troops and are continuing to patrol the area to provide safety and
security for humanitarian partners who are working to support communities in
desperate need of assistance.
Over the past few years, UNMISS has been engaging with
authorities in many parts of the country, including Unity, to deal with
increasing demands from local populations that agencies should only hire
workers from particular ethnic backgrounds.
The United Nations acknowledges the serious youth
unemployment problem in the country due to the dire economic situation and
fully supports recruitment practices that are based on competence,
professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
The UN supports all efforts to rebuild the economy and create employment opportunities so that young people can reach their full potential and enjoy a much brighter future.
Source: UNMISS
