Sudan: UNHCR weaknesses threaten return process in the south

The constant refrain during Refugees International’s recent assessment to south Sudan was expressions of concern about UNHCR’s weak presence in the region. Plagued by a lack of strong leadership as well as by deep budget cuts, UNHCR has struggled to establish a strong field presence in south Sudan and can no longer blame a difficult logistical environment for its problems. An effective UNHCR is critical to the success of the entire operation in south Sudan because within the UN system the agency has the most in-house expertise on protecting refugees and internally displaced persons and managing large-scale returns.