The tripartite committee for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees has decided resumption of the process for repatriating voluntarily the Sudanese refugees in Chad as of early November, 2018.

The committee, which includes the governments of Sudan and Chad and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), also decided at its meeting in Ndjamena completion of the Chadian refugees’ voluntary repatriation by the end of December 2018.

In a press statement, the Commissioner for Voluntary Repatriation and Resettlement, Taj-Eddin Ibrahim Al-Tahir, said after heading Sudan delegation at the meeting of the tripartite committee in Chad that the committee has discussed the progress achieved in the voluntary return of Chadian and Sudanese refugees, the activities carried out by the Sudanese authorities at the refugees’ camps in eastern Chad for exchange of information and the inspection visits and their impact of implementation of the tripartite agreement for the voluntary repatriation programs.

He explained that the meeting has discussed a number of challenges facing the voluntary repatriation process, top of them is the finding of effective data exchange mechanisms about the situation on the ground and logistic difficulties resulting from the rainfall and closure of roads and the lack of finance.

Al-Tahir stated that the committee has heard a briefing of Sudan delegation on the measures adopted by Sudan government on the security issues, especially the security at the voluntary repatriation villages, provision of basic services and means of livelihood, distribution of food and shelter materials as well as formation of committees at all levels to guarantee security of the returnees’ security and settlement of and disputes.

He said that the tripartite committee has decided to hold its next meetings in Khartoum at a time to be agreed upon later.