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Sudan to help move South Sudanese

KOSTI, Sudan, May 5 (UPI) -- The government of Sudan said it will help the International Organization for Migration move about 15,000 South Sudanese people currently stranded in Kosti.

The South Sudanese, many of whom have been stuck in Kosti for months waiting to be relocated to South Sudan, will go by bus to Khartoum or Juba, then be airlifted to South Sudan, the IOM said in a release Friday.

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The government of Sudan agreed to facilitate the move.

"This is the best solution for all concerned and we are grateful to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan for their cooperation and support in ensuring that the South Sudanese in Kosti can now move to South Sudan in safety and dignity," said IOM Sudan Chief of Mission Jill Helke.

Sudan also said it would not impose the White Nile state authorities' requirement that all South Sudanese and international agencies to leave Kosti by May 20.

"The government and people of White Nile state have been hosting successive groups of South Sudanese for more than a year in a place not designed for such large numbers of people. This decision will address their concerns and provide a solution for the thousands of South Sudanese who have been extremely worried about their future in Kosti," Helke said.

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