UNHCR to support voluntary repatriation of S/Sudan refugees in Uganda

Refugees
Kampala, March 10, 2020 (Xinhua/NAN) The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office said on Tuesday that it would support the voluntary repatriation of South Sudan refugees in Uganda, once the conditions are conducive.

Duniya Khan, UNHCR spokesperson for Uganda, said that once the situation improves following the formation of the transition unity government in the country refugees will be returned home.

Khan said that the refugee agency would assist Uganda and South Sudan to repatriate more than 800,000 refugees once things improved for the exercise.

“At present, UNHCR is not promoting nor facilitating any organised returns to South Sudan,” said Khan.

“However we stand ready to support and assist the governments of Uganda and South Sudan when conditions are conductive for a voluntary, free and full informed repatriation,” she said.

The UN estimates that about four million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally as a result of the civil war that began in December 2013.

Uganda hosts 867,000 over South Sudan refugees, according to UNHCR figures.

The Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity was formed after President Salva Kiir swore in former opposition and rebel leader, Riek Machar, as the country’s First Vice President on Feb. 22.

“UNHCR welcomes the formation of a long-awaited unity government in South Sudan, bringing political rivals together to work for lasting peace,” said Khan.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been suffering a civil war since late 2013, following Kiir’s dismissal of Machar.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 collapsed following renewed violence in the capital, Juba in July 2016. (Xinhua/NAN)
FAT/MST
Edited by Fatima Sule/Muhammad Suleiman Tola