A flight carrying nearly 100 internally displaced people (IDPs)
will today leave Khartoum for Yambio in Western Equatoria, marking
the start of air operations in a joint plan between the Government
of National Unity (GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS)
and the United Nations (UN) to help return tens of thousands of
IDPs home this year.



This maiden flight will be followed in the coming few weeks by a
further 15 rotations from Khartoum to destinations in Western and
Central Equatoria. IOM, which is implementing the air operation,
plans to return a total of 1,600 IDPs to these two States.



As with previous road and barge convoys, IDPs have registered for
return at booths in Khartoum staffed by IOM personnel. IOM has also
carried out pre-departure medical screening of the IDPs.



The IDPs flying to Yambio will first stay overnight in Juba at a
way station managed by the German governmental organization, GTZ,
and the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), before
flying to Yambio on two rotational flights on Wednesday 11 July.




On arrival in Yambio, they will be greeted by a reception committee
comprised of local government officials and the local community.
Government vehicles will then take them to a way Station in Yambio
operated by the local government. Here they will receive packages
of basic household items provided by the UN’s Joint Logistics
Centre (UNJLC), the UN’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and
the NGO Care, to help start their new life. They will also receive
a three-month food ration from the World Food Programme (WFP) to
cover their families’ initial needs.



With all the returnees originating from Yambio town and its
immediate surroundings, they will then be taken to their final
destination on government buses.



IOM will have medical and escort teams on all flights to ensure a
safe and dignified return for the IDPs. A Task Force, co-chaired by
representatives of GNU, GoSS and the United Nations Mission in
Sudan (UNMIS), oversees the implementation of the Joint Plan for
Returns.



Since operations under the Joint Plan commenced in early February,
43,000 IDPs have been assisted in returning home to different areas
in Southern Sudan and Southern Kordofan from a number of locations
in Sudan. Around half of those assisted have departed from
Khartoum. In the past few days, 451 IDPs have safely arrived in
Lakes and Jonglei States after travelling by barge from Kosti.



In addition, 36,000 Sudanese refugees have been assisted to return
home by UNHCR and IOM this year from neighbouring countries.



For more information, please contact



Simona Opitz

Public Information Officer

IOM Sudan

Mobile: + 249 (0)912 339 700

Email: "mailto:sopitz@iom.int" target="" title="">sopitz@iom.int



or



Radhia Achouri

Spokesperson

UNMIS

Tel. (+249) 187 086 02

Mobile: (+249) 912 392 270

E-mail: "mailto:achouri@un.org" target="_blank" title="">achouri@un.org