Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Fides Service) - Following armed attacks in southern Sudan the UN High Commission for Refugees UNHCR has decided to suspend repatriation of refugees from Central African Republic, Uganda and Democratic Congo to areas of southern Sudan.
International UNHCR personnel operative in these areas of central and west Equatoria provinces has been transferred or is about to be transferred to other parts of southern Sudan for two weeks. The decision was taken following fierce fighting in Yambio during the night of 18 March not far from the offices of a local NGO.
Although UNHCR personnel in Yambio was not the direct target of the attacks considering the situation of extreme instability the Agency decided to transfer the two UNHCR workers there. Other agencies operating in Yambio also decided to move their staff to Juba the main city of southern Sudan or Rumbek. At present in Yambio calm has returned but the situation remains tense.
The director of UNHCR operations in Sudan Jean-Marie Fakhouri arrived yesterday in Juba and will visit the region in the next few days. The fighting last weekend in Yambio followed an attack a week ago on the UNHCR compound at Yei. On Wednesday March 15 two armed men broke into the compound killing one of the security guards employed by the Agency and injuring another. A UNHCR operator was also wounded. His conditions are improving; the man its still in hospital in Nairobi, in critical but stable conditions. The other wounded person also evacuated to Kenya is out of danger.
Today, after 21 years of civil war ended with a peace agreement signed 14 months ago, besides 4 million internally displaced persons Sudan still has 350,000 refugees in neighbouring countries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/3/2006 righe 30 parole 343)
