Arrival of the first voluntary repatriation flights for Sudanese refugees from Uganda... with Kuwaiti support
The first direct flights under the project supporting the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Uganda, funded by the Kuwaiti Direct Aid Association (KDAA), arrived at Khartoum International Airport last Sunday, carrying 150 beneficiaries. This marks the beginning of a program expected to transport over 1,000 refugees.
The flight, which departed from Entebbe International Airport, was the first direct voluntary repatriation flight between Uganda and Khartoum under the project, with approximately 200 refugees scheduled to return weekly. The flights are expected to continue over the coming weeks.
Kuwait’s Ambassador to Sudan, Dr. Fahd Al-Dhafiri, stated that the project supporting the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees is implemented in accordance with the directives of the wise political leadership and continues Kuwait’s humanitarian role since the outbreak of the war in Sudan.
Ambassador Al-Dhafiri explained that the project represents a successful model of humanitarian work that can be built upon and generalized in the future for Kuwaiti, Arab, and international charitable associations and organizations. He noted that it aims to reunite families and households separated by the war and respond to appeals from Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries’ camps who wish to return voluntarily and safely to their homeland, given the restoration of security and stability in several Sudanese states and regions.
He added that Kuwait, through the Direct Aid Association, took the initiative to support this path in response to these needs, praising the Association’s role as one of the most prominent models of charitable and humanitarian work in Sudan and the African continent.
Al-Dhafiri expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Sudanese authorities for the facilitations they provided, which contributed to the successful implementation of the project, emphasizing that cooperation among various relevant parties is a key factor in the success of voluntary repatriation programs.
He affirmed that this initiative embodies the transition of humanitarian work from immediate response to sustainable impact on the lives of beneficiaries, by helping families, students, and vulnerable groups regain their lives and return to their homeland safely and with dignity.
For his part, Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Ahmed Ibrahim, said that the support provided by the Direct Aid Association to the project comes at a “very critical stage” and represents a “qualitative leap” in the nature of support provided to Sudanese. He praised the Association for sponsoring a large number of travel tickets and operating direct flights from Entebbe International Airport to Khartoum.
Ibrahim clarified that the importance of the project is not limited to the number of beneficiaries but also encompasses the nature of those returning. He noted that the flights include students, employees, and prisoners of war who had spent long periods in Uganda and had lost some sources of sustenance there.
