Some 1,494 Sudanese refugees have successfully returned to their home villages in Dafag, South Darfur, ending 10 years of asylum in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), the United Nations refugee agency has said.
The voluntary repatriation from the Pladama Ouaka refugee camp was facilitated by UNHCR and the Governments of Sudan and CAR through 66 UNHCR chartered flights that began returning refugees to South Darfur on 12 December 2017, and ended on January 5 2018.
The refugees had fled from South Darfur to CAR in 2007 during the conflict between Sudanese forces and armed groups.
According to the refugee agency, the refugees expressed their intention to return to Sudan in late November, following improvements in the security situation and the disarmament of armed groups in their home villages.
Teh agency also said the returnees have been provided land plots, nonfood items (NFIs) and cash grants for shelter materials. WFP is also providing a 2-month food ration. Local authorities have committed to providing the returnees with access to land for farming.
194 Sudanese refugees however opted to remain in C.A.R.
The UNHCR said it will collaborate with the C.A.R. government to develop a local integration strategy to ensure that they continue to benefit from international protection and are able to rebuild their lives in the country in safety and with dignity.
