N’Djamena, September 29 (Darfur24)
The Sudanese embassy in Chad, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has begun preparations for the voluntary return of Sudanese refugees to areas of Sudan, more than three years after the outbreak of war.
A source in the Sudanese Refugee Committee in Abéché told Darfur24 that the first phase of the programme involved registering thousands of refugees in N’Djamena, after some were transferred from other Chadian cities to the capital.
The source said returnees would receive unspecified financial assistance to support their reintegration and help them re-establish their lives in Sudan.
The registration initially excluded refugees in Abéché because the Sudanese consulate there was closed. Following demands from refugees, however, a joint team from the embassy and IOM travelled to the city to register them.
According to the source, the programme does not currently prioritize particular groups of refugees. Those registered are expected to return to areas controlled by the Sudanese army, travelling through Khartoum and Port Sudan airports.
The source said this approach differs from voluntary return programmes organized by Sudanese embassies in some other countries, where priority has been given to government employees, students and vulnerable refugees.
Chad has hosted large numbers of Sudanese who fled the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, including refugees who crossed the border after fighting intensified in Darfur.