The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) launched on 19 October an environmental cleaning campaign in Abyei town with the slogan “A clean environment for today and for generations to come”, organized by the UN Police (UNPOL), in collaboration with the Strategic Communication and Public Information Section and the Force HQs Civil-Military Coordination Section, as part of activities marking this year’s week-long United Nations Day, 24 October.

Flagging-off the campaign, the UNISFA Force Commander and Acting Head of Mission, Major General Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael, told the community members present that, cleaning up the environment not only creates a more pleasant place to live in, but it also provides community health benefits such as the elimination of breeding sites for mosquitoes and other dangerous pests.  “A clean environment makes a community healthy and happy”, General Hailemichael said, adding that it is very important that we uphold the basic principles of hygiene always.

He advised the community to regard the day’s cleaning campaign as the first step towards a bigger endeavor towards embracing a culture of environmental cleanliness, and further encouraged everyone to make it a continuous exercise. He also challenged them to find ways of creating wealth from trash like what other communities in other parts of the world are doing. 

Earlier in his welcome address, the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, Bulabek Deng Kuol, stated that the life of a human being is not safe in a dirty environment. He charged his community to take advantage of the campaign to embrace the culture of ensuring a clean and healthy environment, stressing that by the campaign, “UNISFA has shown us how we can be safer in a clean environment”. Paramount Chief Bulabek applauded the initiative by UNISFA which he said indicates that the mission is here, not only to offer physical security, but also to offer security from diseases that come through dirty environment.

The Senior Police Adviser, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mary Gahonzire announces that UNPOL would continue to work with the Community Protection Committees to ensure law and order is maintained in the community. Cleaning materials were donated to the CPCs to facilitate the exercise while members of the UNPOL participated in the cleaning exercise.

Photos of the activity - https://www.facebook.com/unisfa/posts/855856824601938