South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng said on Thursday that the government has launched action plan to enable refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return voluntarily to their homes and country of origin.
She disclosed that the action plan which includes voluntary repatriation, resettlement for refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees also aims to uphold their rights to return safely with dignity.
Nyandeng said that the South Sudan durable solution strategy and plan of action also seeks to create a secure and safe environment for returnees and refugees in the country.
“The formulation of national action plan to achieve lasting solution for displaced population including IDPs, refugees, returnees and host communities necessitates a comprehensive approach involving all levels of government as well as society at large,” Nyandeng said during the launch in Juba.
She noted that the security situation in the country has improved, thus fostering the voluntary return of refugees and IDPs, adding that the government is currently focused on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction as well as the establishment of framework for safe, dignified and sustainable return.
Albino Akol Atak, Minister of Humanitarian affairs and Disaster Management said the action plan will help the line ministries and development partners to respond timely to the needs of the displaced population.
“This strategic document sets the tone on how the government line ministries, humanitarian and development actors will deliver durable solution and provide overarching guidance,” he said.
Atak said the action plan will help the government to bring on board other stakeholders to provide durable solution for returnees, refugees and host communities.
South Sudan hosts some 330,000 refugees and asylum-seekers mainly from Sudan and has 2 million internally displaced persons due to conflict, insecurity and the impact of climate change, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).