IOM Country Representative, Peter Van Der Auweraert - COURTESY

The International Organization for Migration has disclosed plans to use river barges to transport and transfer South Sudanese returnees in Upper Nile State to their last destination.

According to IOM Country Representative, Peter Van Der Auweraert, the UN agency will provide its available barges in Malakal County to ferry the returnees.

Auweraert who is also the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan says the organization is compelled to avail the support due to what he describes as “limited time” to rescue the situation.

He spoke during a meeting with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in Juba at the weekend.

“We can support bringing them [returnees] from Paloch to Juba. Flights will never be enough for them, so, as United Nations, what we are looking at is to use the river barges,” said Auweraert.

In a tweet, IOM Chief Peter Van Der Auweraert said more people are arriving in South Sudan every day.

As of yesterday, he said 3500 civilians arrived in Renk alone.

Together with partners, Auweraert said IOM South Sudan continues increasing the capacity at borders as fast as they can be there challenging days ahead.

On Friday, April 28, 2023, the Council of Ministers approved 1 billion South Sudanese Pounds for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to support the returnee.