Over the past month, IOM has assisted some 1,500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return from camps and settlements in and around the capital Khartoum to their homes in South Sudan under the Joint Organized Return Plan coordinated and implemented by the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and IOM. Returns by land are organized from Omdurman El Salam Departure Centre, on the outskirts of Khartoum, to Bentiu in Unity State and to Turalei and Wunrock in Warrap State. Returns to the Upper Nile State are organized by bus from Khartoum to the port of Kosti and then by barge for a five-day journey down the White Nile to Malakal, with stopovers in Al Gableen, Al Rank and Melut. All IDPs travelling with IOM are medically screened prior to departure and receive routine vaccinations against Yellow Fever, Diphtheria/Polio/Tetanus (DPT/OPV) and Tuberculosis (BCG). IOM medical staff also travel with the returning IDPs. At the Departure Centre, the returnees receive a package of Non Food Items (NFIs) consisting of mosquito nets, blankets, plastic sheeting, soap, jerry cans, and sleeping mats from the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC). The World Food Programme (WFP) provides all returnees with a 15-day food ration to cover their travel needs. A further three-month WFP food ration is distributed on arrival when the returnees are met by government and UNMIS Return, Recovery and Reintegration committee. Returns within South Sudan under the Joint Organized Return Plan began on 31 January with the first IOM convoy assisting 554 IDPs to return from the town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria to Lomega in Central Equatoria. A further 20,000 IDPs currently living in Nimule, Lobone and Kajo Keiji who wish to return to their homes in Jonglei and Central Equatoria States have so far registered with IOM. Since the launch of return operations in February 2007, more than 46,500 IDPs have been assisted by IOM to return to South Sudan. "/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/activities/countries/maps/sudan/IDP_return_routes_0108.pdf" target="_blank" title="">View Map of IDP Return Routes For further information, please contact: Simona Opitz IOM Khartoum Tel: + 249 (0)912330700 E-mail: "mailto:sopitz@iom.int">sopitz@iom.int