Over One Million Return to Khartoum Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

Over One Million Return to Khartoum Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
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More than a million people have returned to Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, over the past ten months, even as basic services remain largely nonfunctional and disease outbreaks persist. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said these returns occurred between November 2024 and September 2025, as families sought to rebuild their lives after months of displacement caused by the civil war.

While the returns reflect resilience, IOM officials warned that the city remains heavily damaged, with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and other essential services. Out of an estimated 3.8 million people who fled Khartoum, only a quarter have returned, leaving millions more displaced. Across Sudan, 2.6 million return movements were recorded in the same period, including more than 500,000 people returning from neighboring countries such as Egypt, South Sudan, and Libya.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with cholera, dengue, and malaria spreading, and many returnees living in damaged homes or collective shelters. North Darfur has seen continued displacement, with thousands fleeing indiscriminate violence, sexual attacks, and ethnic targeting in El Fasher. Recent reports indicate over 13,000 new displacements in North Darfur and West Kordofan between 15 and 20 October, highlighting ongoing insecurity.

IOM and UN agencies continue to provide aid where possible and appeal to the warring sides—the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces—to end hostilities. Officials emphasized that while Sudanese families show determination to rebuild, life remains precarious without an end to the conflict and urgent investment in basic services.