Closure of UNMIS

UNMIS wound up its operations on 9 July 2011 with the completion of the interim period agreed on by the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed on 9 January 2005.

The mission ended its six years of mandated operations the same day South Sudan declared independence, following a CPA-provided referendum on 9 January 2011 that voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession.

In support of the new nation, the Security Council established a successor mission to UNMIS – the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – on 9 July for an initial period of one year, with the intention to renew for further periods as required.

UNMIS staff run 21 kms to benefit homeless children

14 Sep 2010

UNMIS staff run 21 kms to benefit homeless children

13 September 2010 – For the second consecutive year, UNMIS staff members participated in a half-marathon race between the towns of Agok and Abyei last Saturday to raise funds for homeless children in both communities.

Originally envisioned at a distance of 32 kilometers, the race was scaled back to 21 kilometres on account of heavy rains that preceded the start of the event on the morning of 11 September.

The brainchild of the Canadian UN Police Advisor Kirk DeSilva, the contest raised about US$7,000 in 2009 that was donated to UNICEF's office in Abyei.

Those funds purchased milk formula for homeless children and also paid for the evacuation of one ailing youngster to Khartoum to receive medical treatment.

Participants set themselves a fund-raising target of US$5,000 for this year's event, and UNPOL Team Site Leader Rob Haggarty said he was confident of surpassing that goal when the contributions are tallied next month.

UN military observers, UN volunteers and UNPOL staff members donned their trainers for the race, which began just before dawn and ended nearly four hours later.

The runners set off from the community of Abathok located south of Abyei, and as they approached the UNMIS compound the quicker participants slowed down to allow the others to catch up and cross the finish line together.

A four-member committee has been set up to disburse the funds, which have been earmarked for the construction of tukuls in Agok and Abyei to provide shelter for the homeless kids and give financial support to foster parents who will be hosting three five-year-old children.