Governor: 22.813 refugees back to N. Darfur

The governor of North Darfur, Osman Mohamed Yusuf Kibir, declared that 22.813 refugees have returned to the state from neighboring countries over the past year. However, in an interview with Radio Dabanga, heads of refugee camps in east Chad affirmed that none of the residents from these camps have returned to Darfur, on Sunday, 16 December. While addressing the legislative state council on Saturday, Kibir announced that the number of displaced persons in the five states of Darfur has reached 216.303. The major cities, he continued, count 90.777 of the displaced. Administrative units of Kabkabiya, Korma, Tawila, Dar El-Salaam, Shangil Tobay and some villages in East Jebel Marra, El-Sreif and Saraf Omra have about 117.722 displaced living in their territories, the governor cited. In addition, Kibir claimed that 56.160 displaced persons have either voluntarily or seasonally returned to their villages, also the beneficiaries not included in the “umbrella of relief”.  Lastly, the governor said that 424.805 displaced who receive benefits from the World Food Programme (WFP) and from the International Red Cross, and residents affected by natural conditions, have also returned.  Radio Dabanga file photo