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Refugees – 2006

The humanitarian situation in southern Sudan remained stable and the increased assistance of the international community with the reconstruction or repair of some 370 kilometers of road supported the return of over 10,000 refugees to southern Sudan.¹

In January 2006, Sudan and Kenya, together with the UNHCR, signed a tripartite agreement in helping South Sudanese refugees return home from Kenya. This agreement was one of seven that the UNHCR had expected to sign with neighboring countries which would clear return of some 70,000 refugees to south Sudan in the first half of 2006.² The tripartite agreement with Kenya was supposed to facilitate the return of some 10,000 Sudanese refugees from Kenya

There were several setbacks in refugee repatriation. The deteriorating security situation forced the UNHCR to reduce its operation in Darfur region.³ Similarly, increasing Lord’s Resistance Army activities in southern Sudan also hampered the return of refugees.⁴ As of early September, only 12,000 refugees went back to southern Sudan with UNHCR assistance due to lack of funds for repatriation.⁵ The cumulative number of refugees returning in 2006 was 25,811.⁶

1. “Report of the Secretary General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2006/728), September 12, 2006.
2. “Sudan; Agreement Signed for Refugee Return from Kenya,” Africa News, January 13, 2006.
3. “UN Slashes Operations for Refugees in Sudan’s Darfur,” Xinhua General News Service, March 10, 2006.
4. “Insecurity Hampering Return of South Sudan Refugees,” Agence France Presse, March 18, 2006.
5. “Sudan; Lack of Funds Threatens Refugee Repatriation – UNHCR,” Africa News, September 19, 2006.
6. “Sudan IDP & Refugee Returns, Reintegration Operations Statistical Overview,” accessed October 26, 2011, http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/FEED5CE5022A706CC125753E003F3046/$file/Returns_RRR-Jan09.pdf.