The Catholic Church in Malakal of Upper Nile State has resorted to its only river boat to transport returnees from Renk to other parts of the state.

According to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Malakal, the boat has the capacity to carry up to 800 people including goods.

“We decided to send our boat to bring people from Renk. We found out that they were thousands of people stranded in Malut who wanted to go to either Fashoda County, Akobo County, or  Malakal and even beyond,” said Stephen Nyodho

The transportation started on Monday with almost four hundred people evacuated to their places of origin with some of the returnees settling in Malakal while proceeding to the Kodok and Akobo areas.

“They were almost more than 400 people, some of them landed in their counties Kodokg and Akobo  County, and the rest were brought to  Malakal,” he said.

Bishop Nyudho said the boat returned on Tuesday to bring more people.

“We expect to bring the number that we will get in Renk because the Capacity of the boat can bring over 700 or 800.”

Bishop Stephen however said the church is facing the challenge of fuel to continue providing the service.

“The only challenge we have now is the issue of fuel because [the price o] petrol has gone high and it is becoming a burden for us  because  it (the boat) is a big boat and it consumes a lot.”