Geneva
18 July 2008
The UN refugee agency says it is running out of money to help SouthernSudan refugees go home. The UNHCR says it has a shortfall of $11.9 million. It warns it will be forced to shutdown the repatriation operation this year if it does not get themoney. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
TheUN refugee agency says the voluntary repatriation program has been ahuge success. It reports nearly 290,000 Southern Sudanese refugeeshave gone home since the operation began three years ago.
UNHCRspokeswoman, Jennifer Pagonis, says repatriation to Southern Sudancould be completed by the end of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010, ifthe current return trend continues, But, she says this depends ongetting funding on time for the rest of this year and next.
"Therainy season will come to a halt around about October and there is alarge number of refugees who have indicated that they want to come homeas soon as the rainy season is over during which we normally suspendthe return operation," said Pagonis. "Or it runs at a very slow rate. So, we need to have that money in hand so we can get on withtransporting them home and providing the basic services for them forwhen they arrive."
Nearly 130,000 refugees from southern Sudanremain in exile. Most are from camps in neighboring Uganda, Kenya andEthiopia. They fled from Sudan's long-running civil war, which endedwhen the Comprehensive Peace Agreement or CPA was signed between theMuslim north and Christian and animist south in January 2005.
Pagonissays money is needed to provide services such as clean water, healthand education facilities. They also need agricultural assistance soreturnees can grow their own food once they are back home.
"Conditionsare tough back in southern Sudan," said Pagonis. "Nobody is saying thatthings are perfect, but there are still problems with water supply,with education and it is by no means easy for refugees to returnthere."
"But, the thing is they overwhelmingly wish to return and aresigning up. I think there is more confidence in the CPA. We saw abig surge toward the beginning of the year around April, that theywanted to be home to register for the census which means that theycould vote in the elections that were coming up later," she added.
Pagonisstresses it is the refugees' desire to go home which is driving therepatriation operation. She says the UNHCR needs the funds to supportthem when they get there so they will stay home.