Egypt- Collapse of voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees
By Roba Gibia
Dec 12, 2006 (CAIRO) — The Southern Sudan government plan for the voluntary repatriation of around 3500 refugees from Egypt to Sudan has been stopped because of lack of money. Nonetheless since last September 701 Sudanese have regained the country thanks to this program.
Thirty thousand U. S. dollars is the total of the money spent for the return of 701 people, but the true figures of the allocated sum are held secret. Unconfirmed sources say the amount released for this operation varies between three hundred fifty thousand to seven hundred fifty thousand U. S. dollars.
In this investigation paper, ST correspondent in Cairo, who was closely following this operation since its inception, explains the reasons of this dramatic failure; and the “collateral damage” caused by this unfortunate plan.
The following is the story:
It was not certain, as how the government of south Sudan came about with the initiative of voluntary repatriation program for Sudanese refugees in Egypt in one hand, and on the other, as how the program was going to be managed, coordinated and guarantee its consistency.
Despite the fact that the initiative came as a surprise to many, but was widely appreciated, when the representative of government of south Sudan for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Omar, arrived Cairo in September 2006.
He proclaimed that he was on humanitarian mission, sent by the government of south Sudan for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Egypt, and has amount of money to repatriate about 3,500 refugees.
Ahmed further said that his program will last for six months and renewable if the government could secure more fund for the continuity of the program.
IN THE BEGINNING: FIND AN OFFICE
Upon his arrival, Ahmed Omar started looking for place where he could begin the repatriation process. He contacted Sakakini Church to operate under them, but his request was turned down. Then he consulted Ajing Deng as whether he could operate under their Twic Mayardit Association Office, Ajing gladly accepted and he was appointed as Office Manager to run the program, leaving his job at All Saint’s Cathedral in Zamalek with the Refugee program where he has been working with more than three years. Thus, Ahmed Omar claimed Twic Mayardit Association Office as his voluntary repatriation office, and it became known to everyone as Ahmed Omar’s office despite the fact that he never contributed in the paying of the rent!
When the registration started for voluntary repatriation, Ahmed Omar was very enthusiastic, elegant and speaks confidently and with absolute determination to accomplish his mission. And went on challenging those who were distrustful about the credibility of his mission, explaining that it is time for Sudanese to return home and participate in the construction of their country, pointing out that the coming general census in 2007, elections in 2008 and 2011 referendum in south Sudan require presence of all south Sudanese sons and daughters home. He also made it clear that an office will be opened soon in Khartoum to coordinate the repatriation process directly to south.
He asserted and wanted his mission to be carried out by media, as he has nothing to hide, saying that the role of media is very crucial and can play a great role in the voluntary repatriation program, and to make it known to the whole world that south Sudan has not deserted its sons and daughters in Egypt after the Mustafa Mahmoud incident in 2005.
With enthusiasm and jubilance the voluntary repatriation process commenced and everyone was happy, particularly those who were longing to go home, started pouring to the office for registration and the trip started both by train and microbuses to Aswan, and then by boat to Halfa and Khartoum and special cases were flown by plane to Khartoum.
THE REPATRIATION STARTED AND THE TROUBLES ALSO
The first batch of voluntary repatriation started on September 10, 2006 to October 1, 2006 and lasted for four weeks, 517 refugees were repatriated and was disrupted due to lack of money. And according to official bank receipt, the amount used for the repatriation of this number and other procedural formalities was fifteen thousand U. S. dollars (eighty-five thousand, eight hundred Egyptian pounds).
After disruption more than three weeks, the voluntary repatriation process resumed with first batch on November 5, 2006 to November 19, 2006 and lasted for two weeks only and came to halt, repatriated 184 refugees with total cost of fifteen thousand U. S. dollars (eighty-five thousand, eight hundred Egyptian pounds) according to the official remittance bank receipt.
Thus, due to lack of money and poor planning, the program survived for six weeks only with on and off intervals, with total expenses of thirty thousand U. S. dollars (one hundred seventy-one thousand, six hundred Egyptian pounds), and repatriated 701 refugees both by land and air.
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, MONEY MISHANDLED
The inconsistency in the program, made many to wonder, as how government of south Sudan would initiate such program with only thirty thousand U. S. dollars, and was expected to last for six months or the allocated amount has been misused! It seems this was the proper assumption that the money has been mishandled, as some people put the amount released for the repatriation program from three hundred fifty thousand to seven hundred fifty thousand U. S. dollars. But no one knows the exact allocated and released amount for this program except government of south Sudan and its representative which received the amount.
The fall of the program was a clear indication that the program was initiated inappropriately, without planning and basic assessment of the overall cost and the anticipated number of refugees to be voluntarily repatriated and its duration. As to launch such program, the authorities have to have the complete perception of the program by assessing the repatriation cost by land and per person from Cairo to Khartoum and from Khartoum to south Sudan, as well as by air in special cases whether being full fare or half fare tickets before launching the voluntary repatriation process. And the program has to be headed by a reliable official and supervised by a special committee to ensure the consistency and transparency of the mission. And the allocated fund shouldn’t be released at one shot but at phases, depending on the progress and overall report of the first three month phase and its verification before releasing the second phase of the amount.
VICTIMIZED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT
At this juncture, it is not certain as whether the program will resume or not and when, no one knows. But one thing is certain that, the Twic Mayardit Association has decided not to allow voluntary repatriation program to operate again under their association to avert problems, and has placed notice which reads “due to lack of money and communication with Representative of Voluntary Repatriation Program in Sudan, the repatriation process has come to an end, and those willing to return home, should contact Sudanese embassy”.
It is clear that the program has victimized many and the first victim is Ajing Deng Ajing who left his job with Refugee program at Zamalek where he was drawing over hundred fifty U. S. dollars per month including bonus, and was able to pay his tuition fees for Business Administration studies at American University in Cairo for the past two and half years. But he is now stranded, discontinued his study due to lack of money and even has to borrow money to maintain his flat as well as to travel to south Sudan, as since when he was appointed as Office Manager for voluntary repatriation program, was paid hundred U. S. dollars only as incentive, and was told that his salary will come from south!
The second victim is the refugees, who have had high hope to be repatriated under this program, but were victimized by their own government. Indeed the money was released in their name but never reached them.
And this is evidential as how the south Sudanese public fund is being squandered by the government of south Sudan, and leaving the entire population in south without basic services! While if we have close look at the figures of money received by government of south Sudan from oil share, there is enough money to start building infrastructure of south Sudan and offering basic services to its people within short period, if the money could be used appropriately.
It is worth mentioning that, there is general believe and notion among some government officials that during this interim or transitional period, there would be no accountability for government officials whom are involved in the squander and embezzlement of public fund, believing that the answerability and liability will commence after 2011 referendum! And this is the dynamic force and notion behind proliferation of corruption in the government. This is absolutely dangerous notion and ridiculous which has to be addressed, and it is a dreadful perception which conflicts President of south Sudan’s initiative of fighting corruption!
(ST)