South Sudan seeks relief assistances for referendum returnees

August 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The government of the semi autonomous region of South Sudan on Wednesday appealed for international relief assistance months before holding a referendum on self determination.

James Kok Ruea, the newly appointed minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in an interview with Sudan Tribune from the region’s capital Juba, said the southern government was seeking relief assistance for people returning home from northern Sudan and neighboring countries to take part in the upcoming referendum.

Only southern Sudanese residing in south Sudan will be able to vote in the poll due to take place in January 2011.

“We need international assistance because the region will soon witness huge arrival of our internally displaced persons [from] Khartoum as well as refugees [from] neighboring countries to take part in the upcoming referendum and their coming would add pressure on local resources with the host communities,” said minister Kok.

Kok said that his ministry has developed strategic planning to repatriate returnees and refugees.

“We have a strategic planning in the ministry as one of the priorities to repatriate returnees in the north,” he said. The plan has been shared with the President of southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit and is awaiting approval by the council of ministers.

The secretary of the Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) in Central Equatoria, Mathew Abu John, said many people are in dire need of relief assistance.

Central Equatoria State has recorded an increase in returnees and refugees because of April’s elections and January’s referendum, according to John.

“A lot of people came for census; another group came for elections and the additional more are on the way coming for the upcoming referendum,” said John.

“With the referendum, we are expecting a very big number. Nobody wants to miss referendum. Actually our people have taken referendum more seriously than any other events we have had in the past. All wants to take part in referendum. They are coming with or without assistance because everyone wants to be registered in the south,” he said.

Citizens from the south are expected to vote for separation in the referendum agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal between Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party and the former southern rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ended what was Africa’s longest civil war. The UN estimates that the conflict displaced 4 million southern Sudanese to northern Sudan and neighboring countries.

Many refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not returned to southern Sudan and remain abroad or in settlements in the north.

Today IRIN published a report on how food shortages are affecting returnees and refugees returning for the referendum.

(ST)