Poor transport infrastructure is hindering efforts to evacuate thousands of returnees from Renk County in Upper Nile State, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs has said.
Minister Albino Akol Akol disclosed this during the parliamentary session on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Juba.
This is despite the ministry’s three-month emergency response plan with an approved budget of five-point-three million US dollars.
But the institution says it only received $1 million dollars of the approved budget.
The latest report has indicated that a total of 86,150 people from 12 entry points have arrived in the country.
Out of the total figure, 66,932 are nationals with a 16 thousand two hundred Sudanese, thousand four hundred Eritreans, and one thousand five hundred Somalis, and other nationals.
However, the figure provided does not include those who crossed the border before getting registered.
According to the Minister, due to the high cost of flights, they are now exploring the possibilities of using boats to transport the returnees to their respective regions despite being unsafe.
But Albino Akol Atak said he is worried that the uncoordinated evacuation efforts by the well-wishers and business community can create another humanitarian disaster.