Sudan and Uganda agree to repatriate 50.000 Sudanese refugees

From Miraya FM via ReliefWeb 12 Feb 2009:

Sudan and Uganda tripartite commission meeting in Juba has agreed to repatriate (50.000) Sudanese refugees from Uganda in 2009 and 2010.

The Uganda Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Ecweru Musa Francis, said that the meeting has assigned new roles to both the Sudanese and Ugandan governments in supporting the repatriation process.

Mr. Ecweru urged the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to visit the refugee camps in Uganda and assure them about their safety when they return home.

He said that the Ugandan government has supported the return of over (60.000) Sudanese refugees to Sudan adding that a good number are still in Uganda.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese State Minister of Interior, Abbas Jumaa, thanked Uganda for providing refuge to over (170.000) Sudanese for the last (19 years).

The Minister assured Sudan's commitment to speed up the return of the remaining refugees from Uganda.

Meanwhile, the representative of the UNHCR Office in Sudan, Chrisantos Achi, said that the recent statistics for the returnees to some southern states showed an increase in the number of infant deaths and malnutrition, worse than Darfur.

He added that only half the children whom returned to the south do find a chance in southern schools, affirming that the situation is worrisome.

Chrisantos Achi urged the Government of South Sudan and the Government of National Unity to help UNHCR with the repatriation processes by providing basic social welfare services in the repatriation areas.