UNHCR Says 1.3 mln South Sudanese Refugees Returned Home over Nearly 6 Years

The return of 45,429 South Sudanese was verified and reported in March, 12 percent more than in February, the UNHCR said in its latest update released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Xinhua reported.

It attributed the increase to insecurity in the country of asylum, especially in Sudan, food insecurity, including the reduction of a food ration, and a lack of employment and livelihood opportunities.

According to the UNHCR, the majority of the March returnees came from Sudan and Ethiopia.

As of March 31, the UNHCR reported 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees in the region, which includes Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.