More than 2,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) wanting to
return to their former communities in south Sudan have been
assisted by IOM since it began an organized return operation in
early February.

IOM convoys, which are leaving at intervals of between two-three
days from the Omdurman el Salaam departure centre on the outskirts
of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, are taking the IDPs to South
Kordofan and Unity State.

The organized returns, which are a joint effort by the
Government of National Unity (GoNU), the Government of South Sudan
(GoSS), the UN and IOM, will run until May to allow the returnees a
minimum time to get settled before the start of the planting and
rainy seasons.

"We are seeing the IDPs gain confidence in the organized return
programme," says Stefano Tamagnini, head of IOM's operations unit
in Sudan.

Positive reports of a welcoming reception in home communities
are reassuring those internally displaced in Sudan's northern
Khartoum state wanting to return. Once they are assisted back to
home counties, local authorities formed into Reception Committees
take over. It is largely on their performance and attitude that the
overall success of the programme depends.

Registrations for the voluntary return have also surged. So far
this month, more than 100,000 IDPs have signed up at IOM
registration centres that are run in collaboration with the
Fellowship for African Relief (FAR) in the Khartoum area. This
brings the total of IDPs who want to return from Khartoum to
614,000 people.

Although the UN and IOM are not actively promoting return, the
pressure to assist the population of southerners still displaced as
a result of the two decade long civil war is great. About four
million people are displaced in the country due to the conflict in
the south. More than two million IDPs live in camps and squatter
areas in the greater Khartoum area.

Despite very low development indicators and very basic
infrastructure, IDPs have been embarking on the long journey south
spontaneously for the past two years. Since the signing of the
comprehensive peace agreement in early 2005, an estimated one
million have already returned unassisted after a long and often
hazardous journey leaving many thousands stranded each year en
route.

The joint return programme from Khartoum state aims at assisting
a total of 150,000 persons in the coming months. The first 35,000
are to be transported by IOM, with the remaining 115,000 to be
assisted by the government with IOM technical assistance.

Voluntary returnees on organized convoys receive assistance at
various levels, starting with information on the return areas,
registration, fit-for travel medical check ups, food and non-food
material assistance, shelter on the way, and free transportation,
escorted by IOM medical and operational staff.

Facilitating sustainable returns of displaced populations in
Sudan largely depends on the conditions returnees will meet on the
ground. First priority has been given by the Sudanese government
and the UN to communities that have the capacity to absorb large
numbers of returnees in terms of safety, infrastructure, health and
educational facilities as well as food and water resources.

For further information, please contact:

Birgit Hussfeld

PI Officer

IOM Khartoum office

Tel: +249 / 183 570 801 / 2 / 3 / 4 ext. 153

E-mail: "mailto:bhussfeld@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">bhussfeld@iom.int

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