Hundreds of people are continuing to return to their homes in Abyei after being displaced for over a year following the occupation of Abyei by the Sudanese army last May.

A number of returnees told Radio Tamazuj that their joy was interrupted when they discovered the levels of devastation inflicted on the area, with homes, hospitals and schools destroyed. Many public services will have to be built from scratch.

However many Abyei residents were keen not to let the bitterness of destruction affect their return with many in a celebratory mood, happy to finally return home.