The celebrations of the first anniversary of South Sudan’s independence of on July 9 were at the top of today’s Council of Minister.
Government spokesperson Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the press that the Council of Ministers set up a technical committee chaired by the Minister of Finance under the Vice President to prepare the Independence celebrations with a minimal budget.Dr Marial said the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Joseph Lual, informed the Cabinet that South Sudanese stranded in Kosti are going to be taken to Khartoum by road to fly to Juba.
He added that almost 1,000 returnees will be airlifted every day from Khartoum to Juba.
He said their luggage will be taken to Malakal by road and by barges to Juba.
Dr Marial explained that most people flying to Juba are from Central and Western Equatoria.
He added that the Minister for Social Affairs is preparing reception areas for the returnees.
There are over 12,000 internally displaced persons in Kosti waiting to be transported to South Sudan in very appalling conditions for months.
Future arrangement would be made to transport to South Sudan the 120,000 Southerners who are in Khartoum.