1,045 Returnees Finally Arrive In Wau Thousands of citizens across Wau, the State Capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal turned out yesterday evening to welcome 1,045 South Sudanese returnees who began their journey from Sudan’s Capital Khartoum two weeks ago. 19 August 2011 1,045 Returnees Finally Arrive In Wau A train transporting the returnees arrives in Wau under tight security as WBG State citizens welcome them [©Gurtong]
By James Deng Dimo WAU, 19th August 2011 [Gurtong] - Thousands of citizens across Wau, the State Capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal turned out yesterday evening to welcome 1,045 South Sudanese returnees who began their journey from Sudan’s Capital Khartoum two weeks ago. A total of 15,000 returnees were on board the train and only 1,045 were received in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, while others were destined for Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap States respectively according to James Joseph –the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) team leader. On Tuesday last week, the same train was invaded by heavily armed groups of the nomadic Arab Missriya tribe, alleged to be allies to the Sudan Government in Southern Kordofan town of Meriam, 3Km away from the main town before entering the South Sudan territory. However the returnees managed to overcome such mayhem. James Joseph the team leader told Gurtong correspondent in Wau that Missriya groups looted over 660 tonnes worth of goods, including; Sugar and several bags of maize flour. “Along the way, we also lost an eleven year old boy due to malaria. We dint have enough drinking water and it was generally a major problem to keep him longer for better treatment,” Joseph stated. The attacks on the returnees was confirmed in Wau and condemned by the State Governor, Rizik Zackaria Hassan. “We still have 4 trains transporting over 61, 000 people to the South, the Missriya should stop attacking our people,” Hassan stated. The returnee’s main request to the State government during their arrival in Wau was the issue of land provision for cultivation. During his speech, Governor Hassan promised each family with a plot of land enough for their cultivation. “The people we are now receiving are our relatives who were in the north. They have decided to come back home following the independence of our Country. We have to welcome them with an open heart and share the little State resources equally with them,” Hassan urged thousands of WBGS citizens gathered at the railway station in Wau. The Health Minister, Hon. Isaac Clerto called on the returnees to stay in the transit camp until the IOM and WFP could strategise on settling them. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
