Central Equatoria State, known for its bountiful natural forests and diverse ecosystems, is facing an alarming crisis that threatens its natural habitat. Yei and Morobo Counties, which lie within this plush expanse, are witnessing the rapid and unsustainable cutting of trees, resulting in a devastating loss of biodiversity, disruption in ecosystems, and grave consequences for the local communities.
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Returnees in need of aid as they resettle in parts of C. Equatoria State
Ombaci IDPs under a mango tree at ECSS church in Yei [File Photo: Radio Tamazuj]
Officials in Kajo-Keji and Morobo Counties of Central Equatoria State say thousands of voluntary returnees from neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo need humanitarian assistance as they resettle back home.
There are currently over 8,000 voluntary returnees who have resettled in Kajo-Keji, Morobo, and Yei River Counties for the past three months.
Local officials said the returnees are finding their way back home after the establishment of the county local government structures.
Returning refugee numbers dwindle as they decry mistreatment at borders
More than 4,000 refugee returnees have returned to South Sudan between December and now from neighboring countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and South Sudan s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).
The UN Refugee Agency, in a statement yesterday said, 4,036 South Sudanese refugee returnees were verified to have entered South Sudan in December and early this year, a marked reduction of spontaneous or voluntary returnees from 7,981 reported in November 2020.
“The majority (61%) of the spontaneous refugee returnees were from Sudan while 23% returned from Ethiopia. Returnees from DRC, Uganda, and Kenya represent 15%. Most returns were to Unity State (61%), Upper Nile (16%), and Jonglei (11%). The highest movement from October-December (2020) was reported at border points with Sudan and Ethiopia. However, the Nimule border point with Uganda is still among the
Returnees in Kajo-Keji, Morobo Counties in dire need of assistance
Thousands of South Sudanese voluntary returnees from refugee camps in neighboring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are in dire need of humanitarian relief assistance in Kajo-Keji and Morobo Counties of Central Equatoria State.
Local government officials in Kajo-Keji County told Radio Tamazuj that over 40,000 voluntary returnees, mostly women and children, have settled in various parts of the county without access to food, clean water, shelter, and other essential non-food items.
The returnees were reportedly returning to South Sudan due to harsh living conditions in the refugee camps in the neighboring countries and the improving security situation in South Sudan.