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UNHCR appeals for $ 63 million to support repatriation to south Sudan |
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
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The United Nations High Comnmissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched an appeal for $ 63 million to fund its 2008 operations in southern Sudan.
The UNHCR said that funds would ensure continuing support for the repatriation process, which has seen the return home of more than 160,000 refugees since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The UNHCR’s Africa Bureau Director, Marjon Kamara, said that if the pace of return is not adequately supported, the challenges for sustainable reintegration may become even greater.
The UNHCR plans to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of 45,000 Sudanese refugees from Uganda, 17,000 from Kenya, 16,000 from Ethiopia, and 2,000 from Egypt.Priority will be given to returnees from Ethiopia.
It is hoped that the voluntary repatriation will be completed during 2008.
In a related development, the UNHCR office in Juba said 2,000 refugees have returned home from neighboring countries since last Saturday.
It said that 175,000 refugees returned home from Uganda and Kenya, and settled in Central Eqautoria and Blue Nile States.
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