The Blue Nile refugees at Doro camp in Maban County in Upper Nile State of South Sudan are reportedly to be relocated by the UNHCR to Kaya refugee camp. The refugees refuse, demanding to return to Blue Nile state.

Al Simet Al Imam, a sheikh in Doro refugee camp told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called them to a meeting in Kaya to discuss issues related to tensions that arise between the refugees and local population.

“But we were surprised when the organisation turned the topic of discussion into relocation of a certain number of Blue Nile refugees settled in Doro camp to the new camp of Kaya,” Al Imam says.

The organisation claims that the health conditions are worsening in the current camp of Doroas well as congestion following an influx of Sudanese refugees when the confrontations between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebels intensified.

“The Blue Nile refugees have refused relocation to Kaya refugee camp because they did not complain about any problems facing them in Doro camp, therefore a sizable number of refugees now prefer to return to their state” a source explained.

The UNHCR has apparently disclosed that four tribes have been selected for relocation. “The Commission also had relocated refugees from Jamam camp to Kaya, where a number of refugees reportedly got lost on their way to Kaya camp”.

This is a source of fear among the refugees.