AFRICA/SUDAN - Heritage of war in southern Sudan: 4 million displaced persons and more than 500,000 refugees neighbouring countries

Monday, 21 February 2005

Rome (Fides Service)- The week long mission of deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees Mrs Wendy Chamberlin to southern Sudan, Uganda and Kenya to assess the enormous needs in southern Sudan for the resettlement process ended this morning. During her mission Mrs Chamberlin had several meetings with displaced persons and Sudanese refugees in Uganda and in Kenya.
Because of the twenty year long civil war in southern Sudan - which officially ended on January 9 with the signing of a peace agreement - 500,000 people are now refugees in other countries and more than 4 million are displaced in Sudan itself.
While on her mission, aimed also at verifying operations by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR prepare for a possible repatriation of Sudanese refugees, the deputy High Commissioner stressed the urgent need to support the programme which is seriously under funded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/2/2005 righe parole)


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