The first group of returnees has begun their journey in Renk County, located in the Northern Upper Nile State. The Catholic Church in Upper Nile State initiated the transportation process by using the River Nile to transport the returnees by boats, although they encountered numerous challenges at the Sudan-South Sudan border. The conflict in Sudan forced more than 80,000 South Sudanese to flee during the 2013 war, causing significant damage to the country’s economy, which threatened to collapse. To alleviate the burden of refugees at the country’s checkpoints, the government opted for river transport.

The Church successfully evacuated 400 people to their place of origin, with some of the returnees settling in the capital city of Malakal, while the others headed to Akoba County in the Jonglei State. However, thousands of returnees are still stranded in Malut County and eager to return to their respective areas. The Church suggested that river transport is the only means of helping these people reach their home state.

Unfortunately, the Church announced that it had run out of fuel to continue the operation, which could impact the transportation process for returnees. Last week, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the Governor of Upper Nile State visited the country’s northern border, where the Minister stated that the government has no plans to establish a permanent camp. Instead, they are funding the initiative to transport returnees through river boats to their respective states across the country.

Despite the region’s call for Sudanese leaders to end the war, people continue to flee the country as the conflict becomes more widespread in Khartoum, exacerbating the situation in the northern borders with Sudan. Humanitarian organizations warn that there will be a shortage of aid in the country if the war in Sudan does not stop.