Refugee chief visits Sudan amid hopes for peace

GENEVA, Nov 11, 2003 (AP) — U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers on Tuesday held talks with Sudanese president Omar el-Bashir amid hopes for an end to one of the world’s most intractable refugee problems.

With peace talks between the government and the rebel Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement due to resume at the end of the month, the U.N. refugee agency is starting contingency plans for the eventual return of up to 500,000 Sudanese who have sought refuge in neighboring countries over the past 20 years.

A UNHCR statement said the envisaged repatriation operation was “likely to be one of the most challenging in recent times due to the level of destruction and poor state of infrastructure in south Sudan.”

After his meeting with el-Bashir and other top government officials, Lubbers travels on Wednesday to southern Sudan to meet with rebel leader John Garang on the possible return and reintegration of Sudanese.

SPLA forces have been fighting troops of the Khartoum-based government since 1983, seeking autonomy over southern areas in the African continent’s largest country. The war has claimed more than 2 million lives, mainly because of war-induced famine. The conflict is also driven by competition over oil wells and land.

After more than a year of talks, a breakthrough was achieved in September when the Islamic-oriented government agreed to let the SPLA retain its force in the south, the main area of conflict, for a six-year transitional period.

UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said that Lubbers’ talks with el-Bashir would also focus on the ongoing repatriation of 300,000 Eritrean refugees who have been living in camps in eastern Sudan for up to 30 years.

The refugee chief will later this week head to Eritrea, wrapping up a four-nation tour of Africa, which also included Tanzania and Burundi.