El Fasher, October 29 (Darfur24)
Around 135 families have returned to El Fasher from Nyala, South Darfur State, under a voluntary return programme launched by the South Darfur Civil Administration in cooperation with the National Humanitarian Access Authority of the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) government.
Halima Al-Mahdi Saleh, director-general of the South Darfur State Ministry of Social Affairs, said arrangements had been completed to facilitate the return, including the provision of basic services such as education, healthcare and drinking water, as well as the rehabilitation of service facilities.
She made the remarks during the launch of the families’ return programme.
Nafisa Othman Azriq, one of the returnees, said her family had decided to return after being displaced by fighting, adding that the circumstances that had forced them to leave had changed.
A delegation from the civil administration in Nyala had previously visited El Fasher to assess arrangements for the return of displaced families living in shelters in the city.
The return is taking place amid continuing concerns over security and humanitarian conditions in El Fasher, as well as reports that some returnees have been arrested.
Displaced people told Darfur24 that several families had left the Savannah shelter centre in Nyala for the Tawila area at different times. Others remain reluctant to return to El Fasher because of the prevailing conditions.
