North Bahr el Ghazal returns 9,780 displaced from North Sudan
December 19, 2010 (ABYEI) – Officials from the southern state of northern Bahr el Ghazal on Sunday said it has managed to repatriate 9,780 internally displaced persons from northern Sudan in three consecutive organized returns ahead of the south’s referendum on independence.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Khartoum, John Agany Deng Kawac, a member of the Khartoum based National Assembly, representing Aweil East County, constituency number 2, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said they have assisted a total of 9,780 persons from Khartoum in three consecutive returns.
“At the moment, we have managed to return 9,780 persons from 87,000 internally displaced persons registered only in Khartoum. 87,000 people from Northern Bahr el Ghazal living in Khartoum state were registered and 9,780 have already been repatriated. I personally escorted the first batch of 6,780 and met second batch with additional 3,000 on the way while returning for another trip,” said Agany.
The member of national assembly also explained that there are 7,600 already in the centers waiting to be assisted to return between Monday and Tuesday. “We now have 7,600 people congregated together in all major centers. These are people who registered only in Khartoum. Reports from other northern states are being gathered,” explained Agany.
The official, however, expressed sharp increase in transport cost saying that price of a Hiace, a 14 seats commercial vehicle, smaller than a bus but bigger than a Toyota pickup or hard top, which used to be hired at 15,000-20,000 Sudanese Pounds has gone up.
He said that despite the increase in charges he was determined to hire them regardless due the conditions of the people who are waiting to be repatriated.
“I was in the market yesterday and this morning looking vehicles to hire but found that they have doubled up hiring prices,” said Agany.
He said the government is also not interested in releasing trains and barges to be used and are influencing airlines. “We have repeatedly tried talking to relevant authorities to help us use trains but this did not go through,” he explained.
The Member of Parliament also called on the central government to ensure security and safety of the returnees.
“The issue of insecurity on the way is becoming profound concern particularly in areas under South Kordofan State. The central government needs to provide adequate protection to people who are being assisted to return. Security situation on the way is not good at all. Some of the returnees were last week attacked at Balila. Two sustained severe injuries. Others received minor ones,” he said.
Some Kuot Kuot, a senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement currently in Khartoum, as part of the repatriation task force described the condition of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khartoum as pathetic but said a lot of efforts are being exerted.
“In fact Southerners are suffering in Khartoum; one will find heaps of luggage in shanty residential areas formerly inhabited by South Sudanese here in the suburb of Khartoum waiting for vehicles to take them back home. One will also see hundreds of trucks full with the luggage and boarded buses on the main streets of Khartoum moving to Jebel Awalia the departure point to the South,” explained Kuot.
“People are suffering and at the same time great work is being done to help them,” he said, adding, “so far more than 50,000 IDPs have been repatriated to different parts of South Sudan and the program will continue until first target of 150,000 is repatriated. I hope the government of south Sudan will give another round of fund since thousands of South Sudanese are still suffering in Northern Sudan,” he said.
(ST)