Khartoum Returnees Face Ruins: 5.27 Million Sudanese Head Home

Families are moving back into Khartoum in large numbers, but the return is accompanied by immediate financial strain. The Sudanese Armed Forces declared the state free of Rapid Support Forces fighters in August 2025, prompting a wave of people to leave displacement camps and head to the capital. While military stability has increased in the region, the physical and economic infrastructure has not kept pace with the population growth.

The International Organization for Migration reported that approximately 5.27 million displaced Sudanese had returned to their homes across nine states as of September 30. Of that total, 82 percent had been internally displaced and 18 percent had crossed national borders. About half of the returnees were children. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that roughly 2.5 million of those people went specifically to Khartoum state. The agency warned that many arrived without the necessary conditions to rebuild their lives.

Mohamed Mahdi Makki Farah, 51, returned to Jabal Awliya in August 2025 after fleeing to el-Fasher in North Darfur in June 2023. He found his house wrecked and looted, with kitchen utensils and other belongings missing. His family members now sleep on the floor or in rented rooms. Makki Farah, a former trader, said his business capital fell to nearly a third of its previous value due to the depreciation of the Sudanese pound. He told Al Jazeera, “We have lost everything we had before the war.”

Abubakr Ishaq Hamed Ibrahim, 40, returned to Khartoum in February 2026 from River Nile state. His home was destroyed, and his furniture and bedding were taken. His family rented a house in Omdurman’s al-Thawra neighbourhood but fell behind on payments due to a lack of steady income. Hamed Ibrahim now takes casual jobs to support his family. They have exhausted their savings and borrowed from relatives to cover food, housing, and school fees. The family also receives food assistance from the World Food Programme, including sorghum, flour, wheat, oil, and sugar.

Daily life in the city is complicated by shortages of basic services. Fuel scarcity and recurring electricity cuts have disrupted public transport in recent weeks. Fares have risen on some routes, and passengers often wait hours for buses. Flour shortages have led to long lines at bakeries in several areas. On Saturday, Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza chaired a meeting where state authorities announced measures to prioritize fuel for public transport. Government departments were instructed to provide lifts for employees commuting to work.

The return of millions of people to Khartoum state has placed pressure on local resources. Families are replacing documents lost during the conflict and paying for medical bills and repairs. The combination of damaged housing, limited employment, and rising costs means that reaching home does not end the hardship for many Sudanese families.