UN to repatriate 12000 Sudanese refugees from Ethiopia next year

September 20, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) announced that it would send home about 12000 southern Sudanese from Ethiopia next year.

In a statement issued on Friday the refugees body said about the half of 26492 Sudanese refugees, 12000 refugees, agreed to be repatriated to Sudan in 2009.

Since March 2006, more than 35000 Sudanese refugees have returned home with the help of the UNHCR and IOM after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ending two decades of war in southern Sudan.

The repatriation of refugees is conducted jointly by UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. IOM has been mandated to transport the refugees across the border and to carry out their pre-departure medical screening. Also Sudan and Ethiopia have signed an agreement on these voluntary return operations.

Last March the U.N. refugee agency closed down down two Sudanese refugee camps, where some 7500 Sudanese refugees were sheltered.

(ST)