First Recorded Drop in Sudan Displacement, Yet Humanitarian Crisis Persists

Port Sudan/ Geneva, 27 March 2025 – The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan has declined by 2.4 per cent in the last three months, marking the first decline since the crisis erupted nearly two years ago, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This decrease is primarily due to people returning to their place of origin.  However, those who are going back are returning to areas that have suffered severe damage with very little in the way of adequate shelter, food, infrastructure, education and other basic services.

Since December 2024, 396,738 people have returned to their places of origin across Aj Jazirah, Sennar, and Khartoum states. This movement reflects a cautious but hopeful shift as communities seek to reclaim their homes and resume their lives after months of intense conflict. However, displacement from North Darfur and White Nile states has increased due to heightened insecurity, and across Sudan, the need for increased humanitarian assistance remains extremely high.

“While many people are eager to return home, the conditions for safe and sustainable return and integration are not yet in place”, noted Mohamed Refaat, Chief of Mission of IOM Sudan. “Basic services including healthcare, protection, education, and food are scarce, and the lack of functional infrastructure and financial capacity will make it difficult for families to rebuild their lives.”

According to the latest IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) update, Sudan currently hosts an estimated 11,301,340 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including those displaced both before and after the start of the conflict. The majority of IDPs were displaced from Khartoum, South and North Darfur.  Almost four million people crossed into neighbouring countries, with the majority crossing into Egypt, South Sudan, and Chad.

Most IDPs are living in dire humanitarian conditions, with limited access to basic services. More than half of those displaced are children, with 27 per cent under the age of five. Girls under 18 years old constitute approximately 28 per cent of the IDP population, the report reveals.

“Nearly two years of relentless conflict in Sudan have inflicted immense suffering, triggering the world’s largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis, with over 30.4 million people – more than half of the population – in need of humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children. Recent cuts in international humanitarian aid budgets are compounding the crisis and deepening the suffering”, said IOM’s Refaat.

The IOM Sudan Response Plan seeks  USD 250 million to assist 1.7 million people in need. However, the response plan remains drastically underfunded, with only six per cent of the required funds covered as of February 2025.

IOM has been implementing emergency response activities since the crisis began, providing immediate life-saving aid to an estimated 3.8 million people in Sudan and neighbouring countries to date.

Humanitarian support is critical to ensure safe returns and provide immediate relief, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and protection, and access to basic services to help these populations recover and rebuild their lives.

For more information, please contact:

In Port Sudan: Lisa George, lgeorge@iom.int     
In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int
In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth, kokoth@iom.int