Scores of South Sudanese currently caught up in the fighting have expressed their desire to return to their country as the conflict in Sudan enters its fourth week. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Juba, there are more than 2.5 million South Sudanese in the neighboring country. Citizens in Juba have set up an initiative to help those in need, particularly by raising funds.
This Wednesday, May 3rd, the first two flights with 150 passengers arrived in Juba. It was a small victory for the volunteers who greeted them on the tarmac.
Emmanuel Ladu Kose is in charge of the logistics of this citizen operation: “There are thousands of South Sudanese who are still in Khartoum and they are all asking to be repatriated. Our limited means make it a big problem for us to rent trucks.”
Akoch Akuei Manim, the coordinator, praises the work done by the Khartoum volunteers: “We have coordinators in Omdurman, Kalakla, and Haj Youssif. They delivered. “We ensured that the South Sudanese boarded the trucks safely and drove them to the South Sudan border.”
South Sudanese entrepreneurs, as well as Nilepet, the national oil company, have put their hands in their pockets to allow the return of a thousand people. Despite declarations of intent, the citizens’ initiative hopes that others will follow.