IOM is very concerned following an announcement by the Governor of
Sudan's White Nile State that all international agencies, NGOs and
South Sudanese currently waiting for transport in Kosti must leave
by May 5th - less than a week from now.

There are currently 12-15,000 South Sudanese at the Kosti way
station, 200 kms south of Khartoum, many of whom have been waiting
many months for transport to South Sudan.

All are dependent on assistance from the international community
for food, water, health care and other essential services and most
do not have the means to arrange transportation for themselves to
South Sudan. 

They cannot be left to fend for themselves, and the
international community does not have the logistical capacity to
move them all out of Kosti by the 5th May deadline. 

The Government of Sudan, in its Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Government of South Sudan of 12th February, affirmed
the commitment of both Governments that the movement of South Sudan
nationals from Sudan to South Sudan "shall be voluntary and in
peace and dignity."

The two Governments resolved "to work in cooperation with all
other parties that work on the return in order to facilitate and
assist in the return." 

Although the MoU only formally applied until the end of the
transition period on April 8th, the principles set out in it remain
valid.

On April 8th and 9th the Government of Sudan made clear that it
would be tolerant towards South Sudanese unable to leave Sudan or
unable get the necessary documentation to regularize their
stay.

IOM therefore urges the Government of Sudan to meet this
commitment and to grant more time for the international community
to work with Federal and State level authorities to help South
Sudanese in Kosti, who have clearly manifested their wish to leave
Sudan, to move to South Sudan in safety and dignity.

For more information please contact:

Samantha Donkin

IOM South Sudan

Tel +211922406728

Email: "mailto:sdonkin@iom.int">sdonkin@iom.int 

or

Johannes Braun

IOM Sudan

Tel: +249 (0)922 406 676

Email: "mailto:jbraun@iom.int">jbraun@iom.int