Authorities and community groups in Bao province of Sudan's Blue Nile state are encouraging people who have fled the war to return to the provincial headquarters of Derang.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Abdul Ghani Diggis Khalifa head of the Supreme Commission for Development of Angasna said a voluntary return program was launched in Diggis area last Sunday encouraging people from over twenty villages who fled to Sennar and Gezira states as well as other parts of Blue Nile to come home.

“This time some local organizations and international agencies are providing logistic and aid assistance to the returnees in order to facilitate their return and resettlements," he said.

The people fled fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North rebel group.