Eastern Equatoria authorities urged the UN agency for refugees to aid state governments establish basic services for returnees in order to retain them after repatriation.
State Minister for Education Michael Lopukei Lotyam observed that the lack of basic services in South Sudan drives several refugees to remain in exile while others returned to the host countries after repatriation.Mr. Lopuke said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees should help South Sudan to reconstruct infrastructure and improve schools and health facilities.
He added that reconstruction would reduce the statistics of South Sudanese youth fleeing to hosting countries in search of better education, health facilities and social services.
The minister testified having witnessed returnee youths from Lofon, Ikwoto and Torit counties tracing their way back to exile in Uganda and Kenya to seek further and better education.
Mr. Lopukei made these statements to Emmanuel Radio on the eve of the World Refugee Day.
On a related development, a Ugandan newspaper reported that about 4000 refugees, mainly Sudanese nationals, declined to be repatriated and were holed up in Arua District.
The refugees cited inter-tribal fights and lack of basic services in Southern Sudan as cause to refuse repatriation.