The last group of Sudanese refugees arrived in Kurmuk in South
Sudan yesterday as early rains force IOM and UNHCR to temporarily
halt an operation for the voluntary return of thousands of refugees
to Sudan from Ethiopia.

The rains have made it difficult for buses and trucks to cover
the rugged 850 kms from Bonga camp in Ethiopia to Chali in Sudan
with all operations from refugee camps including Fugnido, Sherkole
and Dimma now having come to a stop due to the unexpected weather
change.

The 616 refugees, from the Uduk tribe, arrived home after 22
years in Bonga refugee camp with a new generation born and raised
in Ethiopia. The majority of the Uduk community still lives in
Western Ethiopia, eagerly waiting to go home and restart life in
Southern Sudan.

 

IOM is working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ethiopia's Administration for Refugee and
Returnee Affairs in the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees
programme through on road and air-lift operations.

About 20,000 Sudanese refugees have now been assisted home with
another 33,000 refugees in Bonga, Fugnido and Pagak camps waiting
to go home. The operation to help return them will resume at the
end of the rainy season.

For further information, please contact:

Liyunet Demsis

IOM Ethiopia

Tel: +251 11 5511 673

E-mail: "mailto:ldemsis@iom.int">ldemsis@iom.int