Khartoum, Sudan — April 21, 2026 — In a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead, nearly 4 million individuals have voluntarily returned to Sudan amidst a backdrop of risk and fragility, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Many of these returnees, who are predominantly from the Al Jazirah region and the capital city of Khartoum, are driven by the hope of rebuilding their lives after months of conflict.
However, without urgent investment in the restoration of essential services, infrastructure, and the recovery of livelihoods, the sustainability of these returns is at risk, the IOM warned.
The returns have been particularly concentrated in Al Jazirah and Khartoum, driven by factors including improved security in some areas, economic pressures, family reunification, limited services in displacement sites, and the growing challenges faced by Sudanese living in neighboring countries. Despite the determination of individuals to return to their homes, many arrive in places still deeply affected by conflict and collapse. “For many, returning to their homes should mark the beginning of recovery.
Instead, many are often faced with destroyed services, damaged homes, and a new uncertainty, “said SungAh Lee, the Deputy Director General for Management and Reform at the IOM, during her visit to Sudan.
The IOM has emphasized the need for access to basic services, safe housing, and ways to restore livelihoods for these returnees. Without such support, the sustainability of safe and dignified returns becomes increasingly difficult. Throughout Sudan, patterns of displacement and spontaneous return are shaping communities and placing pressure on systems that were already weakened.
The peak of the conflict saw nearly 12 million people flee from conflict-affected areas, particularly in Al Jazirah, Khartoum, and parts of Senar and Kordofan, seeking safety in other regions; over 4 million escaped to neighboring countries. States in the eastern region, such as Casala, Jedare, and the Red Sea states, as well as those in the North and Nile River states, have become critical areas of reception, hosting internally displaced persons and migrants while also serving as key points of transit within broader regional mobility routes. Today, nearly 9 million people remain internally displaced.
The influx of displaced populations exerts a persistent pressure on services and resources in host communities. Health systems, water infrastructure, protection services, and livelihood opportunities are under severe strain. Host communities, many of which already face economic difficulties and challenges related to climate change, are bearing increasing social and economic burdens.
In Khartoum, where returns are rapidly increasing, the pressure is added on an urban infrastructure already damaged by months of conflict. Water supply, sanitation facilities, electricity networks, and housing remain deeply affected, complicating efforts to restore basic services.
In Al Jazirah, one of Sudan’s most important agricultural regions, returnees are confronted with damaged systems and equipment. These conditions threaten livelihoods and food production at a critical time for recovery, against a backdrop of food insecurity and economic unrest. These challenges affect returnees, displaced populations, and host communities alike.
As populations move between displacement, transit, and return areas, the pressure on services, livelihoods, and social cohesion continues. Displacement and return are deeply interconnected realities that require coordinated responses across all regions. During her visit, Ms.
Lee met with key government officials, including Ministers of Water and Irrigation, Health, and Education. Through close alliances with national authorities and local actors, the IOM is working to help communities move beyond emergency assistance towards recovery, stability, and long-term peace, thereby fulfilling the Agenda for the Internal Displacement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This includes supporting vital humanitarian assistance while investing in solutions and resilience to strengthen local and community systems over time.
Reliable data and coordinated responses remain essential to monitor movements, identify needs, and ensure that assistance reaches the most affected communities by displacement.
The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but with a coordinated and compassionate response, there is hope for a brighter future for those returning to Sudan.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: International Organization for Migration
