After four difficult years living in a refugee camp in Uganda, Rachele Mindraa has made the decision to return to her native village of Malakia in the Eastern Equatoria region of South Sudan.
Sitting under a tamarind tree in her ancestral homeland of Nimule, Rachele described the challenges she faced in the camp in an exclusive interview with City Review.
“My family and I fled to Uganda during the 2016 conflict. Life there was very hard. Food rations for refugees were not enough, so we decided to come back to our homeland and try to survive,” she said.
Local returnees like Rachele continue to steadily make their way home from Pagirinya and Adjumani refugee camps in West Nile, but many of them lack the resources needed to restart their lives.
Making ends meet
A few of them have been lucky enough to end up with relatives on farms with opportunities to make a living. Rachele, however, has not been as fortunate.
“I am a widow; I lost my husband during this crisis of 2016. Most women are unable to support their families through Dobby work. I don’t have money for food or for my daughter’s school fees. As a result, she has had to drop out of secondary school,” Rachele said.
Rachele who recently returned home washes clothes for money at the center of Malakia in Nimule.
Racheal revealed that in a day she makes over SSP 3,000 which supports her in purchasing food stuff.
“In a day I make over SSP 3,000, which is a big money for me. I buy food and I save some,’’ she said.
Appeals
She appealed to the government and the opposition leaders to implement the peace agreement for the sake of the suffering refugees in foreign countries.
“Am appealing to our government to allow peace in the country, if you see how we suffer in the refugee camp, you will understand the importance of peace,’’ she bemoaned.
Last month, government announced plans of funding the official repatriation of refugees in different parts of East Africa.
Approximately 2.3 million South Sudanese fled to neighbouring countries as refugees when civil war erupted in 2013. Another 1.9 million are internally displaced.
Political violence across the country has reduced significantly since the signing of a revitalised peace agreement.
As a result, approximately 2,000 people have decided it is safe, and time, to return to their homes in Nimule Payam, Eastern Equatoria State, according to local authorities.
Due to official repatriation of refugees, authorities say everyday South Sudanese cross Elegu Border to their homeland to restart a new life.
It is not an easy journey, however, with many parts of the country still suffer from immense economic deprivation, including a lack of food, water and access to basic services such as education and healthcare.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is working with UNHCR and other humanitarian partners to provide support to assist those returning in line with international humanitarian principles.