Sudan’s authorities on Wednesday began relocating 16,000 South Sudanese refugees from camps on the outskirts of Khartoum to an area called Bentiu south of the capital city.
Andalus camp leader Sika Hussein told Radio Tamazuj that nearly 50 families have already been relocated, but that the resettlement site is still new and lacks basic services.
He called on South Sudan’s embassy to stand with its citizens and help provide basic services in Bentiu in collaboration with humanitarian organizations. The camp leader blamed the South Sudanese embassy in Khartoum for playing a “negative role” in Sudan.
A source from Bentiu area said the host community is grumbling about the relocation of South Sudanese refugees to their area of Khartoum State.
Members of the host community have threatened to file a lawsuit against the state government’s decision to relocate the South Sudanese without locals’ consent, that source said.
Imad Eddin Khidir, member of the Joint Ministerial Committee assigned by the Khartoum State government, said the security committee and Khartoum locality authorities ordered the relocation of the refugees from Shajera area.
Imad said his committee comprises the Refugee Commission, Land Protection Authority, and Sudanese Red Crescent, as well as representatives of the security sector, besides Jebel Aulia and Khartoum Localities.