UN to triple repatriation rate of Sudanese refugees in Uganda
May 12, 2007 (KAMPALA) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it is to triple the repatriation rate of Sudanese refugees in Uganda following the improved security and assurances from the government of southern Sudan.
A joint communique between the governments of Uganda, Sudan and the UN refugee agency sent to Xinhua on Friday said the parties agreed to gradually increase weekly repatriation numbers from the current 1,200 per week to 3,600 per week.
“The parties recognized the need to expedite the pace of voluntary repatriation in an orderly, phased, humane, dignified manner, and finding effective and timely solutions to outstanding questions,” the communique issued after the first meeting of the Tripartite Commission on repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Uganda said.
The Commission was formed after the signing of the tripartite agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Uganda to Sudan, signed among the government of Uganda, Sudan and the UNHCR in March 2006.
The Commission noted that there is need to create a conductive atmosphere that will attract the refugees to return home.
The Commission noted the need to reinforce efforts in basic services like health, water and education, employment creation and land and property rights, the communique said.
According to the Commission’s plan, a total of 46,000 Sudanese refugees are to be repatriated this year, 10,000 of which will be repatriated by the end of June this year.
The repatriation exercise to southern Sudan was a result of the January 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended two decades of war between the Sudanese government and former rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.
Since the signing of the CPA, steady progress has been made and more than 140,000 refugees have returned home from neighboring countries, including 12,500 from Uganda.
(Xinhua)