The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday, April 21 reported that nearly four million displaced people have voluntarily returned across Sudan, though inadequate basic services and damaged infrastructure risk undermining the sustainability of these returns.
Most returnees have settled in Al Jazirah and Khartoum, despite widespread destruction and limited access to essential services. IOM official SungAh Lee cautioned that many returnees are confronting devastated homes, disrupted livelihoods and persistent uncertainty rather than recovery.
The crisis stems from the civil war that erupted in April 2023, displacing nearly 12 million people internally, with over four million fleeing to neighboring countries. Approximately nine million remain internally displaced.
The Agency highlighted severe damage to water systems, electricity networks, health facilities and agricultural infrastructure, particularly in Khartoum and Al Jazirah, as key barriers to recovery. It also warned that its 2026 response plan faces a funding shortfall of 97.2 million US dollars, even as more than two million additional people are expected to return to Khartoum this year.
