UN finalizes repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Central Africa
April 12, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The UN’s body for refugees, the UNHCR, announced today the end of repatriation of Sudanese refugees in Central Africa Republic. Last 31 Sudanese in Bangi camp returned Wednesday to Western Equatoria State in southern Sudan.
The last flight bringing home Sudanese refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) took place on Wednesday 11 April, closing therefore the operation in CAR after 17 years of operating refugee camps. The group of 31 returnees from Bangi refugee camp in CAR arrived in Nzara, Western Equatoria State, where they were received by Cabinet members of the Western Equatoria State Government and a crowd of local citizens with an emotional welcome.
To mark this special occasion, the flight was accompanied by the UNHCR Representative in CAR, Mr. Bruno Geddo, a Representative from the Sudanese Embassy in Bangui and a Representative from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), UNHCR’s partner in the repatriation movement.
Since UNHCR started its voluntary repatriation operation from CAR on 2 February 2006, over 19,000 Sudanese refugees came back, 9,536 of them with the UN Refugee agency’s assistance.
A special reception was organized by the Commissioner of Nzara County and UNHCR attended by Government officials and partners to celebrate the end of voluntary repatriation from South Sudan’s neighboring country, where during the years of civil war, thousands of Sudanese were granted refuge.
“We thank UNHCR and IOM for their joint efforts in completing the repatriation from the Central African Republic”, the Acting Governor and Minister for Local Government, Moses Simangi said.
The Commissioner of Nzara County, Sita Santina Ndefu paid tribute to UNHCR for the great task accomplished and called on the returnees to get reintegrated into their communities. Meanwhile, Grace Datiru, Minister of Education, announced that returnee children who had so far studied under a French curriculum, would receive intensive induction courses in English to reintegrate them into the Sudanese education system.
UNHCR Deputy Representative in South Sudan, Bhairaja Panday acknowledged the joint efforts of all and affirmed UNHCR’s commitment to continue helping stabilize and develop South Sudan.
The returnees themselves were overwhelmed with emotion listening to songs, speeches and dances performed for them to welcome them back home after years in exile.
The majority of returnees from CAR went back to Bahr-el Ghazal, Western and Central Equatoria States and Lakes State where UNHCR and its partners are engaging in reintegration activities in areas of high return. Over 100 projects, comprising water and sanitation, educational, health and agricultural projects among others, are planned for 2007 alone.
Last year the repatriation movement from CAR had to be suspended between 15 April and 15 December due to the closure of borders.
Currently, UNHCR is repatriating Sudanese refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Libya. As of to date UNHCR has assisted the organized return of over 50,000 Sudanese refugees, while approximately 300,000 are still remaining in neighboring countries of asylum.
In 2007 the UN Refugee agency plans to assist 102,000 Sudanese refugees to come back home.
(ST)