Over 1.1 million displaced Sudanese return home in under six months
June 5, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Thursday that more than 1.1 million displaced people have returned to their homes in less than half a year.
The number of displaced persons in Sudan reached its highest level at the end of the previous year, totalling 11,585,384 individuals at that time. They began to return voluntarily after the army regained control of Sennar, Al Jazirah, and Khartoum states.
In a report issued Thursday, the IOM said, “In the period between December 18, 2024, and May 28, 2025, 1,189,893 displaced persons returned to 20 localities situated in the states of Khartoum, Sennar, and Gezira.”
It noted that Gezira state saw 80% of the total returnees, who went back to their homes in the areas of East Gezira, Um Al-Qura, South Al Jazirah, Al Hasahisa, Greater Medani, and Al Managil.
The organization mentioned that the number of displaced persons has decreased by 13% compared to the highest statistic recorded at the end of the previous year. The current number stands at 10,136,005 individuals residing in 10,410 sites across 185 localities.
Most of the displaced live in extremely harsh humanitarian conditions due to a poor response to their needs and the destruction of livelihoods in rural and urban areas. The situation worsened further after power outages hit vast areas due to attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on most service stations.
The IOM stated that 53% of internally displaced persons are children under the age of 18.
South and North Darfur each host 18% of the displaced, while Central Darfur state shelters 9% of the total number of those who have fled their homes.
The organization revealed an increase in the number of people who have crossed the border from Sudan to neighbouring countries, reaching 4,138,165 individuals. Of these, 30% fled from Khartoum, 20% from South Darfur, and 19% from North Darfur.
The rise in those fleeing Sudan is attributed to attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces on several areas in North Darfur during the previous two months, including the Zamzam camp southwest of El Fasher, which had sheltered approximately 600,000 displaced people.