Over 13,000 refugees back home –UNHCR

At least 13,308 South Sudanese refugees returned home in March 2021, the UNHCR has revealed. The agency said the high increase in returnees was reported in the two earlier months of the year.   

  The UN report revealed the study was conducted after interviewing 85 people in Focus Group Discussions and 47 in key informant interviews. The exercise was conducted in states of Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap and Western Equatoria State.

 Most of the verified returns to the six states were from Sudan (87 per cent) with 9 per cent from Ethiopia and less than 2 per cent from Uganda and Kenya.

Those in Jonglei, Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States had returned from Sudan and Ethiopia, while returnees from Democratic Republic of Congo were found in Western Equatoria State.

During the month, border monitoring reports were received from 18 border crossing points. Some 1,880 South Sudanese were monitored crossing into the country from the following countries: Sudan (570 individuals), Ethiopia (530), Democratic Republic of Congo (440), Uganda (300) and Kenya (40), the report reveals.

The study revealed search for improved services and security made the refugees to return home in scales of 50 per cent and 42 per cent of the interviews respectively.  Other reasons given for returning home included improved access (18 per cent), reunification with family members (17 per cent) and to check on properties (14 per cent).

Figures from other states in South Sudan, including Eastern and Central Equatoria, have yet to be verified and will be reflected in the April 2021 report. The most frequent border crossing points were Lasu and Gangura with Democratic Republic of Congo, Pantou with Sudan, Akobo with Ethiopia and Kaya with Uganda.