From protecting civilians in war-torn areas and building social cohesion, to ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructure and providing livelihood skills for impoverished communities – peacekeepers work with local and international partners to help facilitate political solutions and sustainable development.
In front of United Nations International Day of Peacekeepers (May 29) With this year’s theme Progress for Peace for People: The Power of Partnership, here are five ways peacekeeping partnerships drive change.
MISS
The United Region of South Sudan experienced its worst flooding in 60 years in December 2021,
1. Promote climate action
Climate change exacerbates the risk of conflict and makes recovery more difficult. Increasing droughts, desertification, floods, food insecurity, and water and energy scarcity in many parts of the world are making it difficult for conflict-affected communities to rebuild. UN peacekeeping acts as the front line of these dual crises.
In December 2021, 70% of South Sudan’s Unified region was inundated with water, following its worst flooding in 60 years.
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (MISS), in partnership with humanitarians and local authorities, acted immediately, with engineering peacekeepers from Pakistan building 70 km of dikes to protect the town, camps for families who had to relocation, airports and roads provide important passageways for humanitarian aid as well as commerce.
On January 4, 2022, MISS and its partners marked 100 days in a row fight the rising water. In a real community effort, displaced families tracked the perimeter, checking for cracks in the mud dyke.
Appreciating the considerable effort of all the partners involved, UNMISS Office Head in Bentiu, Hiroko Hirahara explained, “What I can proudly tell you is that everyone has come together. I mean, this is the beauty of the people in Bentiu that we can argue here, there, everywhere, but once the situation comes up, everyone comes together. We are working in solidarity. I think we are making progress.”
MONUSCO
Okapi radio host Jody Nkashama.
2. On the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic
Since the beginning COVID-19 During the pandemic, peacekeepers have continued to protect civilians from violence and maintain peace, while supporting national responses to the pandemic.
During the pandemic, Radio is already an essential channel Disseminating timely and accurate information about COVID-19 transmission, prevention, treatment, and best practices, especially in local communities. At a time when most people are working remotely because of an increase in COVID-19 cases, MONUSCORadio Okapi host Jody Nkashama was in the studio, trying to stop the spread by notifying listeners.
Nkashama explains: “We have defied fear to serve more than 24 million listeners with reliable information about the pandemic, which has caused a lot of rumors and loss of lives, with negative impact. to the national economy”.
In addition to providing life-saving information and combating dangerous misinformation about the virus, Radio Okapi, operated by the United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), plays an important educational role for young students. When millions of children were unable to attend school due to stay-at-home orders, Radio Okapi stepped in to fill the void.
3. Support local livelihood
For peace to last, communities affected by conflict must be supported to rebuild livelihoods. The peacekeeping force provides and funds vocational and skills training workshops and services to help local communities generate income to support their families.
In South Sudan, healthy pets are not only a symbol of social status but also a lifeline for many families, helping them prepare food, meet nutritional needs and educate their children.
One weekly veterinary clinic is a long-standing tradition in Malakal, South Sudan, thanks to the Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (MISS). From 2006–2015 and then 2018, after a hiatus due to increased conflict in the region, the Indian peacekeeping force provided free veterinary services and training to local farmers. way to ensure the health of their livestock.
With no other veterinarians treating animals in Malakal, UNMISS veterinary services have saved lives and livelihoods.
“Helping people maintain their livelihoods goes a long way in contributing to peace-building efforts across this young nation,” said Lt-Col. Phillip Varghese.
4. Building national capacity to maintain peace and security
Peacekeeping missions work with host governments to build and enhance national capacity to maintain security, law and order, and effective policing and justice mechanisms.
In March 2022, the United Nations Mission to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), launched the activity”Zia siriri ni Akomandé”, (“Let peace reign”) in the Northwest of the country.
This operation aims to reduce the influence of illegal armed groups and the impact of explosive devices through increased patrols and aerial reconnaissance missions.
Working closely with local communities and the national military, peacekeepers conduct patrols to assess the security situation and also learn about local community concerns. In recent patrols, the community has highlighted the lack of medical supplies and school access.
In response, the peacekeepers provided daily clean drinking water, school supplies and sports equipment, as well as free medical assistance, including for women and children. Roads have also been improved to improve living conditions and access to services.
“The number of incidents and attacks in the region has decreased significantly over the past few weeks, proof that there is a real impact from the actions of our units,” according to Lt-Col. Abdoul Aziz Ouedraogo.
Video Player
5. Supporting women and young people to build sustainable peace
Women and youth leadership is critical in shaping solutions that impact lives and lead to peace and development. United Nations Peacekeeping Operations support the meaningful participation of women and young people to ensure that their priorities are at the heart of political and security decisions.
Decades of conflict have divided Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. In 2021, a project supported by the United Nations Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands, helped bring women from both communities together, through a centuries-old tradition: weaving.
The Klotho Women’s Initiative has created loom projects that allow Greek and Turkish Cypriot women of different ages to exchange their weaving knowledge.
Hande Toycan, a Turkish Cypriot, explains: “At first, we felt like strangers, but through the cooperation of these two communities, we know that we are the same. “By meeting each other, getting to know each other’s lives and habits, we will slowly pave the way for peace.”
“Until now, I have had no contact with Turkish Cypriots,” said Flora Hadjigeorgiou, a Greek Cypriot. “My first contact with a Turkish Cypriot was through the Klotho project. At the age of 65”.
