AFRICA/SUDAN - After 20 years of exile first 500 refugees return to Southern Sudan from Ethiopia

Khartoum (Fides Service) - About 500 Sudanese refugees have returned home as part of repatriation operations from Ethiopia to Blue Nile State in Southern Sudan promoted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR. The convoy arrived after a three day journey from Bonga refugee in Gambella, west Ethiopia.
The refugees left Bonga on Friday and spent three nights in purpose-built stations along the 820 km route. On Monday 3 April they reached the border town of Kurmuk. After 20 years of exile the refugees received a warm welcome, a white bull was killed and prayers were offered before the refugees officially crossed the border.
UNHCR gives repatriated refugees a non-food supply parcel of blankets, mattresses, plastic sheeting, Guinea-worm filters, cooking utensils and soap. Standard assistance for reintegration, including food rations sufficient until returnees benefit from the first harvest, is distributed at Chali.
Before the start of the rain season in late May, UNHCR hopes to repatriate 4,500 refugees from Ethiopia to Blue Nile State. A total number of 14,000 Southern Sudan refugees presently in Ethiopia have said they want to return home. About 79,000 refugees live in five camps - Bonga, Dimma, Fugnido, Sherkole and Yarenja - in west Ethiopia. Most of the refugees fled to Ethiopia in 1983 and in the 1990s to escape civil war in Southern Sudan. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/4/2006 righe 24 parole 282)