150 Sudanese refugees in Israel return to Sudan

150 Sudanese refugees in Israel return to Sudan

2010-12-14 12:21:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

LOD, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- A group of 150 Sudanese asylum seekers were flown back to their homes in south Sudan from the Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, Israel on Monday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Israel, William Tall, said the agency was aware of the repatriation efforts but said the refugees were not sent back against their will.

"We know about the repatriation efforts enacted by the Israeli government and have met and interviewed every one of the returning Sudanese nationals to make sure that they weren't coerced in any way," said Tall.

Over the last year and a half, several hundred Sudanese nationals volunteered to return and were transported back in clandestine operations. Israel is currently home to an estimated 5,500 Sudanese migrants and more than 31,000 asylum seekers from other African countries.

Last October, Israel announced that it was looking for African countries which are willing to take in African foreigners who entered Israel through Egypt for a sum. However, so far the Israeli government has not announced the list of potential destinations or the cost of the initiative.

The move is intended as part of a series of initiatives aimed at protecting Israeli borders from thousands of migrants in order to 'protect' its democratic and Jewish character. The initiatives include the construction of a barrier along the border, banning employment of migrants, and establishing of a holding facility planned for 10,000 migrants.

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