A Fun Run Creates Awareness on Deadly Mines
Channel: UNMISS VIDEOS
Date: 2018-04-06

INTRO:
Since 2004, more than 5,000 people have either been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in South Sudan, the United Nations Mine Action Service in South Sudan has announced, while commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in the capital, Juba.


STORYLINE:
As part of its efforts to raise awareness on the impact of landmines and unexploded ordnance in South Sudan, the United Nations Mine Action Service or UNMAS, a component of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan working in the country, organized a 10-kilometer run on April 4th, attracting over 300 runners who all made it to the finishing line.
The early morning start for these runners was mostly all about fun and understanding that landmines which dot South Sudan are indeed dangerous.
For Emmanuel Kirri, who from the start ran hard and maintained his lead throughout the race, finishing in first place came as a surprise.
SOUNDBITE (English) Emmanuel Kirri, Runner and First Finisher
“It is not meant for competition actually, but it is meant only for creating awareness.”
The first female finisher said her participation allowed her a better understanding of the magnitude of contamination by the landmines and unexploded ordnance in the throughout the country. 

SOUNDBITE (English) Becky Barsellotti, Runner 
“I registered because there are so many mines in South Sudan. So when we signed up for the race, the UNMAS guy showed us round some of the mines they collected, and where there are still live mines in South Sudan, my mind was just blown, I didn’t realise it was such a huge problem  and it is as huge, so it is important to raise awareness of it.”
It is a run by many nationalities. Among them, were South Sudanese, whose compatriots have borne the brunt of landmines and unexploded ordnance.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Joseph Lam, South Sudanese Runner
“All this is because of demining in my country – for our country to be clean, from mines, and we much support this demining organization for South Sudan to be free from mines.”   
According to the United Nations Mine Action Service, “decades of conflict, still ongoing, have littered vast swathes of land with explosive hazards.”
UNMAS says that since its inception in 2004, it has surveyed, cleared and released 1.192 billion square meters of land back to the people of South Sudan. However, landmines and other explosive hazards still pose a danger, and inhibit movement.
SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, Senior Official, United Nations Mine Action Service
“We have just passed 5,000 people killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in this country – that’s a pretty significant milestone that was passed in March, and those accidents have been suffered all over South Sudan.  They don’t just cause injury, suffering, death, but they inhibit the delivery of aid – they stop the Mission from doing its work, and they stop the charities and humanitarian actors from getting down roads, to deliver food, to rebuild schools to install safe water points - Every aspect of humanitarian assistance is impacted by the presence of mines and ongoing fighting.” 

In support of the day and the campaign to rid the country of these explosive hazards, the Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan recognized the difficult tasks de-miners bear, while paying tribute to those who have died while clearing mines.

SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and Special Representative of the Secretary General for South Sudan
“This is a big deal! UNMAS does a great job, and its success is measured in what doesn’t happen. So when people aren’t injured or killed by unexploded ordinance, it is success for them, and what we should be doing is taking our hats off to them, because they do an unsung job right across the country.”

UNMAS continues raising awareness worldwide, making it safe for populations to live normally, and humanitarian convoys to deliver aid. In South Sudan, it is an integral part of their work, to support the Mission in achieving its role, as mandated by the Security Council Resolution 2406 (2018).
ENDS