South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) in coordination with the International Organization for Immigration (IOM) have started preparing for the third and allegedly last transport of stranded refugees from Renk county to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

According to a humanitarian official, about 1,000 households have been registered over the last few days to be transported on 3 December by river transport to Juba in Central Equatoria state.

Sultan Benson Juma Mabior in Renk returnee's camp stresses: “The IOM claims that these 1,000 households will be the final transportation despite the large number of returnees stranded in Renk. They need to be taken to their states of origin.”

The refugee affairs coordinator of the SSRRC, Santo Padiet, states in an interview that the uploading of luggage belonging to the returnees has started three days ago. Uploading of luggage is only restricted to those whose names have been registered at the River port and Abayok camp.

Returnees will be given food and a medical team will accompany them on their way to Juba, Sultan Mabior told Radio Tamazuj.

On 4 October, at least 1,036 stranded South Sudanese returnees left from Renk to Juba port using river transport. 951 returnees arrived in the same way on 21 October.

Related: About 3,500 South Sudanese stranded returnees arrive in Renk County (4 November 2013)

File photo: An IOM-organized barge convoy carrying South Sudanese returnees docks in Juba, marking the end of a 17-day voyage from Renk (IOM)