First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar speaks during a peace prayers at Juba Internally Displaced Persons Camp. February 26, 2023. (Photo: Chany Ninrew/Eye Radio).

The First Vice President on Sunday appealed to Internally Displaced Persons across the country to think about leaving the camps, where they have stayed for ten years, and rebuild their lives.

Dr. Riek Machar was speaking during the peace prayers held at the IDP camp of Juba on Sunday.

According to the International Organization for Immigration, there are approximately 203,000 people still living in five United Nations camps across the country, following the violence in December 2013 and in July 2016.

On Sunday, thousands of the displaced population in Juba attended the Church-led peace prayers at a playground between the two camps.

Speaking to the IDPs, Machar urged them to put aside their grievances and embrace peace, forgiveness, and unity.

“We are very much determined to implement this peace and you play a very important role in peace-building,” the first vice president said.

“There are also IDPs in Bentiu, in Bor, In Malakal and Wau. I will repeat the same message, peace has come, and we must forgive ourselves and unite so that we start a better life tomorrow.”

“When we see you in this situation, we feel bad because you deserve to rebuild your lives and enjoy the privileges of peace like anyone else. If you are a trader, go and make business, if you are a farmer, go and cultivate. We don’t want you to continue living in this difficult situation.”

The event was also attended by the ministers of Presidential Affairs, Defense, Health and Peace-building, as well as the Speaker of the Council of States.

On his part, Minister Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said a ten-year period is the longest time for people to be in a displacement camp.

He appealed to the displaced persons to come out of the camp since political leaders in Juba are working together and enjoying the dividends of peace.

“We are gathered here after ten years of your stay in the POC. It is such a long time to be in a camp. That’s why we say peace must begin here,” he said.

“Today we have a government of national unity. Our political leaders are working together. All our political leaders are working together for peace.”

“Who is dying when there is war? It is our mothers, our women, and our children. These are the people dying. Did we get our country to die? It can never be. We must get together so that this country is run by all of us.”

Meanwhile, the Internally Displaced Persons has called on the unity government to fully implements the provisions of the revitalized agreement to enable their return to their homes.

They are calling for the implementation of security arrangements including the deployment of security forces as enshrined in Chapter Two of the 2018 peace agreement.

They also appeal for transitional justice, transparency, and reconciliation as stipulated in Chapter Five.

John Gatlong, who is the Education Coordinator at the IDPS camp read out a press statement on behalf of the IDPs on Sunday.

“The areas of concern your excellency, are Chapter Two of the Revitalized peace agreement on security arrangement and Chapter Five which talks about compensation for loss of properties, homes, or other related items.”

“In that case, we cannot just go individually or go to places that are not yet insecure. We are not even able to do anything to support ourselves and buy our needs. The general security situation in the country is worrying.”

On Wednesday, President Salva Kiir expressed support for facilitating the voluntary return of refugees after meeting their representatives including IDPs in Juba.