"UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS"

Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

A human rights team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan visited rural Nyang County and found a lack of Judges and prosecutors, unoccupied court buildings and accused prisoners subject to prolonged detentions before trial. UNMISS

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) destroyed 25 firearms and hundreds of knives, machetes, and similar weapons confiscated from internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in its protection-of-civilians sites in Juba at a public event held today in its Tomping compound. UNMISS

The United Nations top humanitarian official told the Security Council that the situation in Sudan and South Sudan continues to deteriorate for hundreds of thousands of people in both countries. Valerie Amos also warned the Council that “if we don’t take urgent action now, we will see a major humanitarian crisis unfolding in South Sudan with respect to food insecurity and the possibility of famine.” UNIFEED-UNTV

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), held a memorial ceremony today in country’s capitol Juba to honor two Indian peacekeepers who lost their lives protecting civilians during an attack on its base in Akobo, Jonglei State. UNMISS

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has started airlifting internally displaced South Sudanese into Juba. More than 12,000 IDPs have been stranded for months in the town of Kosti in Sudan. UNMISS

As diplomats from more than 100 countries gathered in Geneva this week to discuss plans for phasing out cluster bombs, the "Cluster Munitions Monitor 2011" report was launched today detailing the progress made by Governments around the world in banning and destroying the indiscriminate weapons. CH UNTV / FILE

UN Special Representative for the Central African region Abou Moussa today identified a number of key challenges facing the sub-region, including cross border security, activities of armed groups such as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the circulation of small arms, drugs and human trafficking. He also noted that piracy in the region remains of great concern. UNTV

Ethiopian troops began moving to Sudan's north-south border region of Abyei to monitor the contested region that could serve as a source of conflict between Sudan and the newly independent nation of South Sudan. UNISFA

The Security Council voted today to end the UN Mission in Sudan. Ambassador Susan Rice said the US "deeply regrets" the Sudanese Government’s decision not to ask for an extension of the mission's mandate. UNTV