600 Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia return home in air lift – IOM
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
December 29, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The international organization for migration (IOM) said that 600 southern Sudanese refugees are safely repatriated home this month in an air lift operation that ended on Saturday.
The air lift operation has been under way by IOM in collaboration with Administration for Refugees and Returns Affairs (ARRA) and United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IOM statement said.
According to the statement some of the returnees have been refugees in Ethiopia for about 26-years.
In 2008 over 5000 refugees, all from south Sudan were repatriated home.
The Sudanese refugees are returning home voluntarily and based on tripartite agreement of 2006, signed among Ethiopia, Sudan and the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHER).
Following the 2005 peace agreement between the former rebel, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudanese government led by the National Congress Party, over 35,000 Sudanese in Ethiopia are repatriated home safe.
The air lift operation that began this month will be fully operational in the year 2009. The statement added.
IOM covers transport costs for air lift, examination for fitness, and escort on each flight while Ethiopia’s ARRA watches the safe return of refugees and assists food supply during their stay in camps.
Up on arrival in Sudan the returnees will also receive basic needs of three months ration to rehabilitate them.
Some two million people died and 6 million others were displaced in a 21-year long conflict in the Africa’s largest continent.
(ST)