UN Humanitarian Coordinators for South Sudan and Sudan called on both Governments to resolve the situation of nationals living in each other’s state.
Toby Lanzer and Ali Al-Za’tari encouraged the Governments of South Sudan and Sudan to implement fully the Agreement on the status of nationals of the other state, signed on 27 September 2012.
In a joint press statement issued on Tuesday they applauded the setting up of the Joint High Level Committee to oversee the management and decision-making of issues relating to these individuals.
‘We encourage both Governments to scale up efforts to provide nationals of the other state with documentation, including residency and work permits’, they said.
They appealed for safe and voluntary return, especially those stranded at the Kosti railway station in Sudan and other extremely vulnerable individuals in the two countries.
The Coordinators appealed to the international donor community to assist while they pledged to continue supporting the two Governments.