By Yiep Joseph
Aweil Community in Abyei has reiterated its calls for the state government to expedite the repatriation of over 500 returnees stranded in the Abyei Administrative Area.
This appeal comes at a time when returnees are facing severe food shortages, water scarcity, and accommodation challenges.
Despite various efforts by the state government to repatriate individuals from Abyei to Aweil, many continue to endure these hardships.
While acknowledging the existing efforts by the state government, Tong Kuot Tong, Secretary General of the Aweil Community leadership based in Abyei, described the situation as unbearable and urged the government to accelerate the repatriation process. He emphasized the need to repatriate those who were left behind during the initial trips.
“The stranded returnees in Abyei are currently in critical situations due to poor living conditions, health issues, food shortages, and many other challenges they face at the moment,” Tong stated.
He recognized the state government’s efforts in transporting more than 1,000 returnees back to their original homes in Aweil last month and appealed for the same level of commitment until the repatriation is fully concluded.
“Currently, we still have over 500 Aweil returnees stranded here in Abyei. Their numbers are increasing daily, and they are sleeping in open spaces while it rains,” Tong added.
He expressed appreciation for the state government’s tireless efforts to ensure that returnees reach their places of origin.
Tong also commended the residents of the Abyei Administrative Area for their warm reception of the returnees, noting that the host community continues to share what little they have.
Recently, the Northern Bahr El Ghazal state government transported over 1,000 returnees who had settled in Abyei after fleeing the fighting that erupted in Sudan. The majority of these returnees are from Aweil.
Tong Kuot Tong, spokesperson for the Aweil Association in Abyei, reported that the Northern Bahr El Ghazal state sent a delegation to Amiet in Abyei to facilitate the repatriation of returnees camped under trees.
The delegation was led by Mr. Dominic Kang, the state minister of physical infrastructure, along with the chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).
Kuot stated that the state government dispatched 14 vehicles to transport the returnees back to their respective homes in the state.
“We are delighted to announce that our people have been transported back home. Over 1,000 returnees have been taken. These individuals come from various areas in our state, and the 14 vehicles have successfully transported them,” he noted.
According to Kuot, development partners did not contribute significantly this time, and “only the state provided transportation.”