More than 900 returnees who were stranded for three years in the Sudanese town of Kosti arrived in Wau in 19 buses on Monday.
Africa Inland Church and Sudanese authorities organized the repatriation for more than 3,000 returnees to Wau and Awiel in 48 buses and 31 trailers carrying their belongings, Voice of Hope reported.
Chief Angelo Mathiang Agok told Voice of Hope upon their arrival in Alel Chok area that the journey started eight days ago in Kosti and they travelled via Unity state.
He said they were groups going to Warrap and Lakes state and people who reached their final destination in Wau.
Mr Mathiang added that they were waiting their belongings to arrive.
Returnee Ambilia Viva Alnor said she was very excited to reach her homeland.
She appreciated South Sudan and Sudan’s governments and the Africa Inland Church for facilitating their return and safe arrival.
She called on the state government to pay attention to their children who missed education for three years.
Ms Viva urged well-wishers to support the returnees to normalize their lives at home.
State Deputy Governor Zachariah Joseph Garang welcomed the returnees and assured support for them to contribute towards the nation building.
He revealed that the state will communicate with Africa Inland Church to ensure the complete repatriation of all returnees to their original states.
The state government donated ten cows to the returnees as they wait for their belongings.
More than 602 families started their journey from Kosti to Awiel and Wau.
Some 760 children were out of school during the three-year wait in Kosti.