18/12/2025
IOM: Three Million Sudanese Return Home
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, confirmed on Wednesday that it has recorded a rise in the number of returnees from within and outside Sudan to more than three million, leading to a 19% decrease in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The peak number of IDPs in Sudan reached approximately 11.5 million before gradually decreasing to 9.3 million due to returns.
In a report, the organization stated that it “recorded the return of 3,027,446 people to their areas of origin or nearby locations, including 2,260,735 individuals who returned from internal displacement and 566,711 individuals who returned from outside Sudan.”
The report indicated that returnees went back to 2,290 locations across 55 localities in nine states, with 99% returning to their original areas and the remainder to nearby locations.
The organization reported that 1,098,615 individuals returned to Khartoum, while Gezira State received 835,209 returnees, Sennar State received 176,824, and White Nile State received 138,012.
The report stated that most of the return movement, which began in November 2024, occurred gradually rather than en masse due to improved security conditions, a lack of job opportunities in displacement areas, and limited improvements in basic services.
It explained that a significant percentage of returning families reported returning home despite ongoing security and service challenges, suggesting that in many cases, the return was forced rather than based on the sustainability of the situation.
The return movement was primarily linked to the army's recapture of the states of Sennar, Gezira, and Khartoum, which allowed for improved security, the restoration of services, and the sustainability of supply chains.
Food Needs
The report stated that 68% of returnees settled in their original homes, while 21% resided in partially damaged houses, and the remainder lived in temporary buildings or alternative shelters.
It noted that 76% of returning families reported a need for food, and 63% reported a need for non-food items. The list of needs also included shelter, livelihoods, water, healthcare, and education.
The report further indicated that 69% of returning families reported experiencing food insecurity, with 34% having to resort to negative coping mechanisms to secure food.
It also revealed that 41% of returning families complained of a lack of access to adequate healthcare services due to damage to and closure of health facilities, shortages of medicine, and high costs.
The report stated that 26% of returning children are not enrolled in school due to damaged schools, teacher shortages, and the need to work or contribute to family support. Children under 18 years of age comprise 53% of all returnees.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached 9,338,999, residing in 11,033 locations across 185 localities in all Sudanese states. Of these, 61% live in Darfur.
The IOM indicated that 51% reside within host communities, mostly in rented accommodations, while the remainder live with relatives, in unfinished buildings, or damaged houses. An additional 25% have settled in gathering places, including open areas and informal settlements, while 19% live in camps.
The report explained that 37% of all displaced persons reside in rural areas, while the remainder live in urban areas. Displacement in urban areas is linked to access to basic services, although it also places a strain on resources, including housing, water, and healthcare.
It stated that 81% of displaced households reported that their most urgent need was food, and 72% of these households complained of acute food insecurity. Of these, 38% resort to negative coping mechanisms, including reducing the number of meals, borrowing, and child labor.
The report also indicated that 46% of displaced households complained of a lack of regular access to safe drinking water, while 39% reported using shared or inadequate sanitation facilities, and 33% reported a lack of basic hygiene supplies.
According to the report, 44% of displaced households complained of a lack of access to regularly functioning health facilities due to their remoteness, insecurity, and the high cost of treatment.
The report stated that 29% of displaced school-aged children are not enrolled in school due to the lack of or damage to schools, the need to work, and the inability to afford education.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), displaced families reported high protection risks, particularly in informal settlements and camps. These risks include gender-based violence, child labor, and restrictions on freedom of movement.
The IOM anticipates continued returns in the coming period, with 47% of displaced families reporting their intention to relocate within the next six months. Of these, 52% plan to return to their areas of origin, while the remainder intend to move to other locations within and outside Sudan.
The IOM also reported that 4,348,544 people have crossed borders into neighboring countries since the conflict began in April 2023. It noted that border crossings declined in the second half of this year due to tightened restrictions in some countries and deteriorating economic conditions in host countries.
