By Theophilous Ochang

At least 2,225 individuals, including women and children, have returned home to Eastern Equatoria State from Kakuma refugee settlement, Kenya, said the office of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission

The commission said the figures were recorded between August 11 to 20, separately from the 4,000 returnees figure recorded since July 2024.

Speaking after the meeting with the humanitarian cluster in Torit on Thursday, Khadija Clement, and the State Deputy Chairperson for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), said the consistent return of the refugees is massive.

“The number we got from the returnees who came from Kenya is very huge. In Torit County, we got 1367 (365 households), Kapoeta South we got 4 households and the number of individuals is 30,” she explained.

“In Budi there are 67 households and the individuals are 397, Kapoeta East has 300 representing 57 households and in Kapoeta North, we have 3 households.”

She appealed to the international organizations that have closed their offices in Torit and relocated to Juba, to look back and help the returnees rebuild their lives.

According to Khadija, the basic needs such as agricultural tools, seeds and tents should be prioritized to help the returnees who are currently being integrated with their family members across the state.

“I want to say to international organizations that moved out of here and their administrations are still in Juba, let them try to come and give help to the returnees who have come.”

She said the returnees are not only from Eastern Equatoria State, but they come from across the country.

“The returnees are not from Eastern Equatoria alone, but all the members of all the states are here in this state in Torit, Kapoeta, and Narus. The organizations should come and help the returnees who are suffering,” Khadija said.