KUWAIT: The first flights under a voluntary return project for Sudanese refugees in Uganda departed Sunday as part of the first phase of an initiative implemented by the Kuwait-based Direct Aid Society under the supervision of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Sudan. The project aims to facilitate the return of more than 1,000 Sudanese refugees to their homeland over a period of around six weeks, at a total cost of KD 300,000 ($971,880).
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Sudan Dr Fahd Al-Dhafeeri told KUNA that the project is being implemented under the directives of Kuwait’s political leadership, in cooperation with the embassy, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Direct Aid Society. He described the initiative as an extension of Kuwait’s longstanding humanitarian efforts to support the Sudanese people and ease the repercussions of the conflict that has continued since April 2023. Al-Dhafeeri said the project is the first of its kind and represents a practical model for helping reunite families separated by war, while responding to the urgent humanitarian needs arising from difficult refugee conditions in Uganda.
He expressed appreciation to the Direct Aid Society, noting that the initiative had received a warm welcome and widespread appreciation from the Sudanese government and people as another manifestation of Kuwait’s humanitarian support for Sudan. The Sudanese government has pledged to provide all necessary assistance to ensure the project’s success, he added, describing it as a potential model for similar initiatives and an incentive for other humanitarian organizations to support voluntary return programs.
Comprehensive support
Direct Aid Society Secretary-General Dr Abdullah Al-Sumait told KUNA that continued government support and donor confidence had enabled the organization to respond swiftly to one of the world’s most difficult humanitarian crises. He said the gradual recovery of some Sudanese cities, the growing desire among Sudanese refugees in Uganda to return home, and the agreement between the two governments to support the initiative had made the project particularly important at this stage. Al-Sumait described safe and voluntary return as a direct contribution to recovery and reconstruction, noting that the Society was providing comprehensive financial and operational support to facilitate the return of more than 1,000 refugees.
The assistance includes airfare, logistical arrangements, travel documents and coordination with the governments of both countries and the Kuwaiti Embassy, in an organized process designed to safeguard the dignity and safety of beneficiaries until they reach Sudan. He said the first phase would serve as a foundation for future expansion and complement the Society’s broader relief efforts in Sudan, while stressing that the scale of humanitarian needs exceeds currently available resources. Al-Sumait called on donors, governments and international partners to increase their support, emphasizing that additional resources and partnerships would enable the program to expand in the future.
Air travel only safe option
Meanwhile, Ambassador Onur Ahmed, rapporteur of the Sudanese government’s High Committee for the Voluntary Return of Sudanese Abroad, said the initiative forms part of broader government efforts to promote stability and support recovery and reconstruction, with assistance from the Direct Aid Society. Ahmed said the number of Sudanese refugees in Uganda is estimated at around 95,000, adding that air travel is currently the only safe option because suitable land routes are unavailable. Meeting the return aspirations of all refugees could require approximately 1,000 flights, at an estimated cost of $400 per ticket, he said. Two Sudanese airlines have offered discounts of up to 25 percent, but funding remains the biggest challenge to expanding the program.
He explained that beneficiaries are selected through a joint mechanism based on established criteria that give priority to children, elderly people, the sick and families seeking reunification. Ahmed stressed that voluntary return is an integral part of the recovery and development process and called on humanitarian and international organizations to support and expand return initiatives. He also expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s continued support for Sudan and for the efforts of countries hosting Sudanese refugees, particularly Uganda, Egypt and Libya. — KUNA