A flight carrying nearly 100 internally displaced people (IDPs) will today leave Khartoum for Yambio in Western Equatoria, marking the start of air operations in a joint plan between the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the United Nations (UN) to help return tens of thousands of IDPs home this year. This maiden flight will be followed in the coming few weeks by a further 15 rotations from Khartoum to destinations in Western and Central Equatoria. IOM, which is implementing the air operation, plans to return a total of 1,600 IDPs to these two States. As with previous road and barge convoys, IDPs have registered for return at booths in Khartoum staffed by IOM personnel. IOM has also carried out pre-departure medical screening of the IDPs. The IDPs flying to Yambio will first stay overnight in Juba at a way station managed by the German governmental organization, GTZ, and the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), before flying to Yambio on two rotational flights on Wednesday 11 July. On arrival in Yambio, they will be greeted by a reception committee comprised of local government officials and the local community. Government vehicles will then take them to a way Station in Yambio operated by the local government. Here they will receive packages of basic household items provided by the UN’s Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC), the UN’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the NGO Care, to help start their new life. They will also receive a three-month food ration from the World Food Programme (WFP) to cover their families’ initial needs. With all the returnees originating from Yambio town and its immediate surroundings, they will then be taken to their final destination on government buses. IOM will have medical and escort teams on all flights to ensure a safe and dignified return for the IDPs. A Task Force, co-chaired by representatives of GNU, GoSS and the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), oversees the implementation of the Joint Plan for Returns. Since operations under the Joint Plan commenced in early February, 43,000 IDPs have been assisted in returning home to different areas in Southern Sudan and Southern Kordofan from a number of locations in Sudan. Around half of those assisted have departed from Khartoum. In the past few days, 451 IDPs have safely arrived in Lakes and Jonglei States after travelling by barge from Kosti. In addition, 36,000 Sudanese refugees have been assisted to return home by UNHCR and IOM this year from neighbouring countries. For more information, please contact Simona Opitz Public Information Officer IOM Sudan Mobile: + 249 (0)912 339 700 Email: "mailto:sopitz@iom.int" target="" title="">sopitz@iom.int or Radhia Achouri Spokesperson UNMIS Tel. (+249) 187 086 02 Mobile: (+249) 912 392 270 E-mail: "mailto:achouri@un.org" target="_blank" title="">achouri@un.org