Returnees in Lakes State are pleading with the local Government and non-governmental organizations to provide them with basic social amenities.
Joyce Wahome is an official with UNHCR, the UN’s agency for refugee, in Lakes State. During the World Refugee Day celebrations on Wednesday she presented a report on returnees that settled in the state, Good News Radio reported.She said returnees requested better roads, improved security, clean water supplies, schools, health facilities and a place for worship.
Director for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Lakes State, Philip Kot Job, castigated the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure for failing to carry out the necessary survey works at the resettlement site for returnees in Nyangkot.
He appealed to the State Governor to fast track the permanent resettlement of returnees, who are currently living in temporary makeshifts in Mayen Atol.
Mr Kot thanked the State Government and NGOs in Lakes State for securing a piece of land for returnees who came from the neighbouring Sudan.
He noted that all returnees who arrived in Lakes State received a warm welcome together with sufficient food and non food items by the World Food Programme and other humanitarian organizations.
Lakes State established four resettlement sites for returnees in Yirol East County and Rumbek Central counties.
Over 7,000 returnees have reportedly been reunited with their families in Lakes State so far.