By Yiep Joseph
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (NBGs) has announced plans to facilitate the movement of its citizens returning from Sudan due to the ongoing conflict there.
In a statement to the media, state authorities acknowledged that some of their citizens returning from Sudan due to the conflict became stranded in the Abyei Administrative Area upon reaching the country.
Last week, Abraham Ariath Piol, the chairman of the Aweil community residing in Abyei, informed the media that over 2,000 individuals from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State had been stranded in Abyei after returning from Sudan.
Mr. Ariath explained that these individuals were unable to reach their destinations in Aweil and other parts of South Sudan due to a lack of transportation.
He emphasized the urgent need for intervention to facilitate their transport, as many of them face hunger and numerous other challenges.
Responding to this demand, Garang Makuei, the assistant press secretary in the office of the governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, revealed that the state government has convened and tasked the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) with facilitating the process.
“Governor Simon Ober held a meeting with the chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) to conduct an assessment to determine the counties of origin of the people living there. This will ensure that when they are transported, they will be taken directly to their home areas,” Mr. Makuei stated.
He further added that once the assessment is complete, the government’s priority will be to transport vulnerable individuals to their respective counties.
“Vulnerable people will be transported first, and the remaining individuals will be moved in subsequent trips. The government is working diligently to transport the stranded returnees residing in the Abyei Administrative Area,” he added.
The Sudanese civil war, which began in mid-April 2023, has significantly impacted both the Sudanese and South Sudanese populations.
The conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, both within Sudan and across its borders, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
South Sudan, sharing a border with Sudan, continues to receive a large influx of refugees and South Sudanese citizens returning to their homeland.
In 2023, the humanitarian community in South Sudan appealed for urgent funding to ensure continued support for the onward transportation of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan to neighboring South Sudan.
Aid agencies report that approximately 15,000 individuals arrive from Sudan weekly.
Over 70% of these arrivals reportedly enter South Sudan through the Wunthow border entry point in Renk, with the vast majority being South Sudanese nationals. With no end to the Sudan conflict in sight, agencies reported in 2023 that the number of people seeking refuge in South Sudan is expected to continue rising in the coming period.