A new IOM report provides valuable insights into the protection and
reintegration needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have
spontaneously returned to South Sudan over the first six months of
2007.

According to data compiled by IOM and its partners at 21
tracking points strategically located across North and South Sudan,
68,870 IDPs were recorded travelling to South Sudan.

Over the same period, IOM also tracked 99,291 IDPs who had
actually arrived in their villages of origin in Lakes, Northern
Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap States and South
Kordofan.

Data from the tracking points shows that 38.5 per cent of all
spontaneous returns were to Northern Bahr el Ghazal and 22.7 per
cent to South Kordofan.

The report also shows that 26 per cent of the returning families
were headed by single women and that the average family size had
increased from an average of 3.5 persons in 2006 to 5.5 persons in
2007.

"Tracking spontaneous returns, particularly at the village level
provides important information on the reintegration needs of
vulnerable groups such pregnant and lactating women and single
parent households," says Gerry Waite, IOM's Senior Protection
Officer. "It also provides a system to alert our humanitarian
partners to the protection needs of specific groups of
returnees."

According to the report, 55 per cent of those who have
spontaneously returned to South Sudan are children and young
people. This further underlines the urgent need to invest in
appropriate educational and health facilities at a local level.

Overall, 44,610 displaced South Sudanese have been assisted as
part of the Joint Return Plan of the Government of National Unity,
the Government of Southern Sudan and the United Nations.

Tracking of Spontaneous Returnees in Sudan January – June
2007 may be downloaded "/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/published_docs/studies_and_reports/tracking_report_01062007.pdf"
target="_blank" title="">here.

For further information, please contact:

Simona Opitz

IOM Sudan

Tel: +249 (0)912339700

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