(ABYEI) – The United Nations Police (UNPOL) in Abyei has introduced a new vegetable farming project at the local detention facility. The initiative, launched on 14 July, aims to support both detainees and members of the Community Protection Committee (CPC) by offering practical agricultural training that promotes rehabilitation, nutrition, and environmental care.
This farming project is part of UNPOL’s broader efforts to improve detention management standards in the contested Abyei region, which borders South Sudan and Sudan. By equipping detainees with essential farming skills, the programme is designed to contribute to their reintegration into society while also addressing daily needs such as hygiene and food self-sufficiency.
UNPOL explained that the initiative not only encourages detainees to engage in physical activity, but also teaches sustainable agricultural methods that can improve living conditions within the facility. The fresh produce grown may supplement meals, improve hygiene, and contribute to better health outcomes for those in custody.
Participants in the programme include detainees currently held in the facility and members of the CPC, a local security body established to promote community led peace and protection in the absence of a fully functioning police service in Abyei.
While small in scale, the project represents an example of how peacekeeping missions are increasingly focusing on rehabilitation, not just security enforcement.
