AU ASSESSMENT MISSION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN

JUBA, South Sudan, May 23, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The delegation of the African Union Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons, a sub-committee of the African Union responsible on all matters pertaining to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons on the continent, arrived in the Republic of South Sudan on 20 May 2012 and will be in the country until 24 May 2012.

The mission is led by HE Vivienne T. Wreh, Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to Ethiopia, and is accompanied by Ms Macrine Mayanja, Senior Political Officer from the African Union Commission Division of Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Displaced Persons/Department of Political Affairs.

The main objective of the mission will be to meet with government official and relevant agencies responsible for humanitarian issues, in particular with regards to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Additionally it will visit transit camps and areas of returnees for refugees and IDPs where some projects will be identified for African Union to fund. This will be done in close cooperation with the Government and local African partners.

Upon returning to Addis, the PRC Sub-Committee on Refugees will recommend the possible projects for funding.

The African Union will not relent in its support to the efforts of the Republic of South Sudan in finding durable solutions to the problem of continuous humanitarian crisis, so that peace and stability prevail.