14 July 2011. Aramba (Kabkabiya): Families are accomodated in buses right before the departure. More than 200 displaced families (about 800 people) are returning from Aramba to their original village, Sehjanna (100 kilometers distance).After more than seven years in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Aramba (near Kabkabiya, North Darfur) they decided to participate at this voluntary repatriation program organized by UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission, with the logistical support of UNAMID. The families are farmers who fled their original village in Sehjanna (near Kutum, North Darfur) due to the conflict in Darfur.
The return operation started on Sunday 10 July and will continue for the next days. The returnees are transported by buses and their belongings by trucks for about 10 hours. During the trip, the Rwandan and South African UNAMID troops are escorting the returnees, who are also provided with water jerry cans. World Food Program will provide the returnees with food for the first six months.
This is the largest returnee operation organized in North Darfur for the last years.
Photo by Albert Gonzalez Farran – UNAMID