Civilians fleeing the fighting in Sudan camped at the border areas of Upper Nile State. |Photo: Michael Daniel.

The government has released one billion pounds to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to respond to the dire humanitarian needs of returnees fleeing the Sudan conflict.

Information Minister Michael Makuei said more than 6,000 returnees including foreign nationals are entering South Sudan daily through 12 border points.

Makuei said foreigners entering the country will be taken to refugee camps while South Sudanese returnees will be transferred to their areas of origin.

Speaking to the media after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Makuei says the government does not plan to establish an IDP camp for the returnees.

“There are 6000 people entered South Sudan through these 12 entrances daily some of them are foreigners who have been lifted by their countries from Paloch and others,” said.

“For those who are coming to South Sudan as refugees, they will be taken to refuge comps and for the South Sudanese, there will be no internal displacement camp in South Sudan.”

“But they will be taken to their states the ministry of Finance has released one billion pounds to the ministry of humanitarian as the first phase.”

In the past week, thousands of returnees fleeing the conflict in Sudan camped in the border areas of Upper Nile State including Renk, Meluth, and Paloch.

Meanwhile, the Council of the State in its ordinary meeting decided to deduct 10% from each member’s salary to support South Sudanese returnees.

Aliza Odhok, the Deputy Chairperson of the information committee of the council of the state, says the money will be used to provide for the basic needs of the returnees.

“The Council of States decided to stand with Sudan and the citizens of South Sudan and Sudan returning from the war in Sudan because they supported us during the last war,” Aliza said.

“The Council of States decided to deduct ten percent of the members’ salaries to support the returnees from Sudan, even if they were from South Sudan or Sudan.”