Unity State returnees call for land allocation

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

March 26, 2012 (BENTIU) – More than five hundred South Sudanese returning from Khartoum to Unity State are calling for the regional authority to expedite the allocation of land.

The WFP is reportedly handing-out three bags of maize to be shared between 42 returnees before they make their journey from the port to their final destination.

John Makuel Changath, a local chief for the returnees urged the state governor, Taban Deng Gai, to make land allocation his priority. Changath also described the difficulties which many of the returnees may face; adapting to rural life.

Mary Nyadiet Machar Thaak, a woman who has been living in Khartoum for the last 30 years, said that she had come to Unity because South Sudanese achieved its independence in July 2011 and was bringing with her the skills she had learnt living in Sudan’s capital.

Thaak said that her family fled Rukotna County of Unity State during the Sudanese civil war, but that she was glad to be returning to the land of her grandparents.

“We are not vulnerable but a hard working citizens, we discourage aid from NGOs, we need to stand with our own”, said Thaak.

On 15 March Unity state received a record 1,000 returnees.

Khartoum has given South Sudanese a repatriation deadline of 8 April.

Many of the returnees have been waiting for three weeks for land allocation. There is particular urgency as the rainy season, which will make transport difficult, is close approaching.

Since independence 360,000 South Sudanese have been repatriated with an estimated 500,000 yet to decide whether to register as a foreign workers in north Sudan or travel to South Sudan.

The possibility of extending this deadline was thought to be one of items to be discussed between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir at a summit 3 April but this has been postponed due fighting on the north-south border.

(ST)