Following 21 years of civil war between North and South Sudan, a comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) was signed between the Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLM/A) on January 9th, 2005. With the signing came hopes for a new era of equitable growth and prosperity for disadvantaged areas and groups in Sudan. This provides incentive for internally displaced people (IDPs) throughout Sudan to consider returning to their places of origin.
Many IDP’s that have been living in camps on the fringes of Khartoum are making the decision to return home. For most, the journey home is long
and full of challenges. The trip begins with a 350 km ride by truck from Khartoum to Kosti. Once in Kosti the IDP’s must beat the elements as they wait up to a month for a barge to take them the rest of the way home. People travelling this route are on the barge from 5-25 days.
This project is engaged at strategic points along this “return route” through its work in Khartoum State, Kosti, and Renk. This covers areas including places of displacement, transition and final destination. Upon assessment of our programmatic areas, FAR has identified three key areas for intervention along the returnee route; Khartoum State (Omdurman es Salaam and Wad el Bashier) IDP camps, at the Kosti Wharf in White Nile State, and Mabaan locality in Northern Upper Nile Renk).
Khartoum State:
It is estimates that there are 4 million Internally Displaced People in Sudan. Approximately 2 million live in camps and squatter areas on the outskirts of Khartoum. This is where the long trip home begins for many IDP’s. FAR is helping IDP’s in Khartoum State by improving their health and quality of life. This project funds the following sectors;
- Water and Sanitation – Construction of household latrines
- Health and Nutrition – Health Education
- Non-food Items – Distribution of shelter materials
- Capacity Building – Conduct training for Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) in Disaster Management and Human Rights
Kosti (White Nile State):
At the Kosti wharf, hundreds (an average of 400 to 500 weekly) of are waiting for the barges to return to their areas of origin. The returnees waiting for the barges are at risk of contracting different diseases, such as respiratory infection and diarrhoea, due to overcrowding and a lack of water and health education services. This project funds the following sectors;
- Water and Sanitation – Provision of clean drinking water, at the wharf site and on the barge, and washing facilities at the wharf
- Health and Nutrition – Health education and nutrition training
- Shelter – Construction of shelter at Wharf site capable of holding 50 families (300 people)
Renk (Upper Nile State):
As stated earlier, Renk is a place of either transit or permanent stay for returnees. The FAR Renk staff have been monitoring and assessing this situation through observation and conversations with the returnees in the area. This project will target vulnerable returnees in as they transit though the area and settle by providing resettlement kits and health services to 3000 households. This project funds the following sectors;
- Health and Nutrition – Health education and provision of basic medical drugs
- Returnee Kits – Plastics sheets (shelter), cookware, mosquito nets, seeds, blankets, and plates and cups
