JUBA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has recommended launching night peacekeeping patrols to residential neighbourhoods to provide additional security and boost confidence for South Sudanese returning home.
Head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer said Wednesday the proposal is being considered by South Sudan authorities.
"UNMISS and our humanitarian partners both have a role to play in the eventual return of displaced people," Shearer said on a visit to Wau town in north-western region.
Shearer visited the neighbourhood of Lokoloko on the outskirts of Wau where some residents have returned to their houses and started growing food on a small scale.
"UNMISS can help by providing a greater sense of security and humanitarian agencies can offer more services outside the protection camps so those people will have more incentives to leave and restart their lives at home," he added in a statement issued after the visit.
In April, the alleged ambush and killing of a government SPLA General in Wau led to clashes in the town resulting in the deaths of around 30 civilians.
Shearer, who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, said the return of displaced people to their homes in Wau could provide a "model" for other parts of the country.
"It is important that people return to their homes voluntarily and for that to happen they need to feel safe and confident about their future," Shearer said.
The number of displaced people living in the UNMISS Protection of Civilians (POC) site has fallen from 38,000 to 32,500 over the last two months. Many of those people have returned home to cultivate their land.
"The security situation has improved in recent weeks. I am pleased to see that the local authorities, the police and National Security have worked to improve the security environment," the UN official said.
Shearer met with the Wau Governor and security officials about cooperation with the UN, humanitarian agencies and importantly the displaced people themselves, to create the enabling conditions to assist people to leave the camps and go home.
"This collaboration could represent a new model for the return of displaced people," he said.
