First direct flight carries 150 Sudan refugees home

KUWAIT: The first direct flight under a project supporting the voluntary return of Sudanese refugees from Uganda, funded by Kuwait’s Direct Aid Society, arrived at Khartoum International Airport Sunday carrying 150 beneficiaries, marking the launch of a program expected to facilitate the return of more than 1,000 refugees. The flight departed from Entebbe International Airport and marked the first direct voluntary return flight between Uganda and Khartoum under the initiative. Further flights are scheduled in the coming weeks, with the program expected to transport around 200 refugees per week.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Sudan Dr Fahad Al-Dhafeeri told KUNA that the project reflects the directives of Kuwait’s political leadership and continues the country’s longstanding humanitarian role since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan. He described the initiative as a successful model of humanitarian action that could be expanded in the future through cooperation with Kuwaiti, Arab and international charitable organizations.

Al-Dhafeeri said the project seeks to reunite families separated by the conflict and respond to appeals from Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries who wish to return home voluntarily and safely amid improving security and stability in several Sudanese states and regions. He praised the Direct Aid Society for taking the initiative to support the return effort, describing it as one of the leading examples of charitable and humanitarian work in Sudan and across Africa.

Al-Dhafeeri also expressed appreciation to the Sudanese authorities for the facilities provided to ensure the project’s success, stressing that coordination among all stakeholders is essential to effective voluntary return programs. He said the initiative’s value extends beyond the number of tickets provided, as it specifically supports students seeking to resume their studies, families seeking reunification and vulnerable people who cannot afford the cost of returning home.

The initiative, he added, demonstrates a shift in humanitarian assistance from immediate relief towards creating sustainable impact by helping families, students and vulnerable groups rebuild their lives and return home safely and with dignity. Sudanese Ambassador to Uganda Ahmed Ibrahim told KUNA that the support provided by the Kuwaiti Direct Aid Society comes at a “very pivotal stage” and represents a “qualitative leap” in assistance to Sudanese citizens.

He praised the Society for sponsoring a large number of travel tickets and operating direct flights between Entebbe and Khartoum, noting that the significance of the initiative lies not only in the number of beneficiaries but also in the groups being supported. The returning passengers include students, employees and families who have spent extended periods in Uganda and lost some of their sources of livelihood, Ibrahim said. He praised the coordination that preceded the launch of the project, as well as the efforts of Kuwait’s Ambassador to Sudan Dr Fahad Mishari Al-Dhafeeri and direct coordination between the Direct Aid Society’s offices in Khartoum and Uganda to secure and sustain the assistance.

Ibrahim said Kuwaiti support reflects the strength of Sudanese-Kuwaiti relations, noting that Kuwait has stood by Sudan since the beginning of the crisis and provided extensive humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people, including displaced persons across several states. Nour Al-Huda Al-Ajab, Director of the Direct Aid Society’s office in Uganda, said the initiative was launched in response to growing humanitarian needs among Sudanese refugees and a rising desire among some to return home as conditions gradually improve in several states and cities.

She said the project aims to facilitate safe and dignified returns while reuniting families separated by war and displacement. Beneficiaries include elderly people, patients, women, children and university and school students seeking to resume their education. Al-Ajab said the first flight included families from the Kiryandungu and Masindi camps, as well as students whose return became urgent after universities in Sudan announced the resumption of academic activities, requiring them to return for enrollment or examinations.

She said flights would continue at a rate of 200 to 230 refugees per week as part of a wider program to expand voluntary returns and facilitate the safe and organized repatriation of those wishing to return to Sudan. Uganda has hosted approximately 95,000 Sudanese refugees since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, with some now seeking to return home as security conditions improve in parts of the country. Efforts are continuing to expand voluntary return programs and establish safe and organized pathways for returnees. — KUNA