The head of the coordinating committee representing Equatoria’s returnees stranded in Renk has expressed that the returnees are worried and frustrated by unfulfilled promises by the authorities to transport them to Central Equatoria state’s (CES) city of Juba.
Liu Okuwai claimed in an interview with Radio Tamazuj that the committee’s last meeting with government authorities was with the deputy commissioner of the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, Gievana Luka Joseph and Mary Apai, the Central Equatoria’s Minister for Gender and Social Welfare, a number of weeks ago.
The pledges made by these figures at the meeting were reportedly to initiate the process of repatriation to Central Equatoria within one week following their return to Juba.
“It was a high delegation; we sat with them, talked with them and they briefed us about all the problems facing the government, especially on the side of funding. But at the end we agreed on the point that they will able to transport us, as those of IOM said they have no problem with the transportation of the refugees,” Liu claimed.
He added that “There was also a previous agreement with the people of the commission – not a new one – and the IOM that they will transport people with their luggage if possible, so we agreed and even with written documents which we have a copy of now, that individuals from 1 to 3 will be given half of lorry truck to fill with their luggage, families with full lorry in which all people agreed upon here at the port.”
He urged the government of South Sudan to intervene in order to speed up the process of repatriation before the rainy season, as this may increase the suffering of the returnees stranded in the camps.