180 returnee families with special needs selected to benefit from a United Nations shelter project in Eastern Equatoria state missed out due to lack of land.
Acacio Jafar Julio Ð who heads the UNHCR-Torit Office Ð told Radio Emmanuel that the UN wanted to build houses for about 180 needy returnee families but this could not be done because the authorities id not provide land in time.He said land allocation was a major challenge in the process of reintegration and resettlement of returnees and a large population of people who came from Khartoum were not settled yet.
The UNHCR officer added that families who missed out the shelter project were not likely to get a second chance because the number of returnees calling for attention is increasing.
Torit County Commissioner William Oyet Omoro blamed lack of coordination among UN refugees agency, International Organization for Migration and Torit County authorities to settle the question of land for returnee families.
He said over 1,400 plots were marked for the resettlement of returnees but the land was not occupied due to lack of adequate coordination.
Commissioner Oyet added that lack of basic service hindered resettlement of returnees who got plots across River Kineti, in Torit.