180,000 South Sudanese Returnees Now Back Home

At least 180,000 South Sudanese who were displaced to the North during the Sudan civil war have now returned home.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Georg Charpentier told the press on Saturday at Juba Port that most of the returnees have now resettled in their permanent resettlement sites.

He however, said insecurity threats have interfered with the repatriation of some returnees with attacks reported along the roads in Southern Kordofan and Abyei.

Charpentier who spoke after his visits to temporary transit and permanent sites in Kuacjok, Warap State and Juba to assess humanitarian situation of the returnees.

He said more than 900 returnees from the North are being given refuge at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) way station in Khadugli, Southern Kordofan.

“The greatest challenge now is ensuring successful reintegration of returnees in state capitals and counties of origin in a way that is sustainable”, he said.

Charpentier, however, assured that efforts are being made to ensure that the basic needs of these returnees are met, including food, access to water and sanitation, blankets and shelter.