IOM, in coordination with the UNHCR and the South Sudan Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) is providing onward
transportation assistance to a group of some 550 Sudanese who
spontaneously returned on foot from Dimma camp, in Ethiopia’s
Western region of Gambela to Boma in Sudan’s Southern Jonglei
State.

The group, consisting almost uniquely of young men, left Dimma
camp in early January because they said they could no longer wait
to return home. After a long trek across densely forested areas and
difficult terrain, they finally crossed the Ethiopian Sudanese
border, tired but eager to reach their homes, some still very far
away. 

Within days, they were transferred to a temporary reception
facility in Boma, where they received food and non-food items
before being registered by IOM for the last leg of their long
journey home.  

  

“Most of the returnees are from remote areas in Central and
Eastern Equatoria, Warrap, Unity, Upper Nile and northern parts of
Jonglei State,” says IOM’s Louis Hoffmann.
“Because returns by land represent insurmountable logistical
challenges, IOM will be organizing an airlift out of Boma,
beginning this Wednesday for the first group of 40 returnees from
Boma to Warrap and Unity States."

Before the end of the month, IOM plans to organise 14 flights
from Boma to some 20 locations in Southern Sudan. Upon arrival, WFP
will provide the returnees with three months' food ration, and
non-food item kits containing basic household items will be
provided by UNHCR.

Prior to their departure from Boma, all returnees will be
medically examined. In light of a current meningitis outbreak,
those travelling to infected areas will be vaccinated by an IOM
medical team in accordance with the latest WHO epidemic charts.

This operation is funded by the UN-administered Common
Humanitarian Fund for Sudan, which aims to give the Humanitarian
Coordinator greater ability to target funds at the most critical
needs, encourage early donor contributions and allow rapid response
to unforeseen needs.   

Meanwhile, another group of 500 Sudanese refugees are today
leaving Dimma Camp for Pagak in Sudan’s Blue Nile State as
part of joint efforts by the Ethiopian government, IOM and UNHCR to
assist 27,000 Sudanese refugees return voluntarily to former home
communities in South Sudan this year.

Other convoys carrying a total of 1,500 refugees are due to
leave in April from Fugnido camp  to Pagak.

In addition to providing the return transport, IOM medical teams
have also been sent to refugee camps to assist those returning. On
arrival in Sudan, returnees are given food and reintegration
packages containing seeds and agricultural tools.

At the end of 2006, there were still more than 60,000 Sudanese
refugees in Ethiopia, concentrated in five camps in the west of the
country – Bonga, Dimma, Fugnido, Sherkole and Yarenja.

The operation to return Sudanese refugees from Ethiopia resumed
earlier this month and will continue until the start of the rainy
season in May. Since last year, IOM helped to return more than
6,000 Sudanese refugees to Blue Nile and Upper Nile States.

For more information, please contact:

Louis Hoffmann

IOM Boma

Tel: +249 99 121 70095

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

Cecilia Omole

IOM Addis

Tel: + 0251-11-5511673/5519675

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