IOM opens River Nile journeys for return of South Sudan IDPs
June 26, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — An IOM operation to provide return assistance along the River Nile to an initial group of 2,400 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from camps in Khartoum started on Wednesday June 20 when a group of 451 IDPs boarded an IOM-chartered barge in Kosti for a two-week journey to their homes in South Sudan’s Lakes and Jonglei States.
Due to the onset of heavy rains, return by land have come to a halt and are not scheduled to resume until late October. Since February, IOM and its partners have assisted more than 42,000 IDPs to return home in South Sudan, South Kordofan State and Blue Nile State.
“With the onset of the rainy season, travel by river remains one of the only options for those wish to return home to South Sudan,” says Mario Tavolaj, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Khartoum. “Over the next seven weeks, IOM intends to complete six barge rotations between Kosti and key towns along the River Nile in South Sudan.”
Air operations from Khartoum to the South to transport another 1,500 vulnerable IDPs are scheduled to start on July 10th 2007.
This operation, undertaken jointly with the Government of National Unity, the Government of South Sudan, and UN partners is the first barge operation ever organized to return IDPs from North to South Sudan. The barge departure was witnessed by Brunson McKinley, IOM Director General Brunson and by senior Government and UN officials.
The barge is scheduled to make a first stop in Shambe, in Lakes State to disembark 255 IDPs persons before sailing further south towards Bor, in Jonglei State.
Prior to their departure, IOM transported the returnees by road from Khartoum to a way station in Kosti, which is jointly run by IOM, the Fellowship for African Relief (FAR) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). The group was medically screened and vaccinated at the way station.
Upon arrival in the ports of Shambe and Bor, the IDPs will be taken by truck to selected drop off points where they will be welcomed by community members and representatives of local authorities.
Upon arrival, each family will receive a 3-month food ration from WFP, in addition to the Non Food Items (NFIs) such as plastic sheets, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerricans and soaps donated by UNICEF/UNJLC prior to their departure.
(ST)