Khartoum residents face renewed hardships after returning home

Prior to his return, Farah and his family had sought refuge in el-Fasher, North Darfur, after the conflict erupted in June 2023. Upon returning to his home in Jabal Awliya, south of Khartoum, he discovered extensive damage and looting, including the theft of household items.

“Everything had been completely destroyed. Now we sleep on the floor, and some of us are living in rented houses,” Farah stated. “We have not made any decision to repair our home because the costs are extremely high, and we have not been able to start.”

His livelihood as a trader has been severely impacted, with his assets diminished and his business capital reduced to a third of its pre-war value due to currency depreciation. The financial strain is compounded by the cost of children’s medical care and basic necessities.

Many Sudanese families are experiencing similar difficulties as they return to their homes after displacement. Fighting between the SAF and the RSF, which began in April 2023, persists, although government victories have stabilized parts of Sudan, particularly around Khartoum.

According to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix, approximately 5.27 million displaced Sudanese have returned to their homes in nine states as of September 30. Of these, 82 percent were internally displaced, and 18 percent crossed borders. Children comprise roughly half of the returnees.

An assessment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in August 2026 indicated that 2.5 million people had returned to Khartoum state, but cautioned that returning does not guarantee a return to normalcy, as many homes are damaged, job opportunities are scarce, and access to essential services remains limited.

Abubakr Ishaq Hamed Ibrahim, 40, returned to Khartoum in February 2026 after being displaced to River Nile state in May 2023. He, too, found his home looted and destroyed, lacking furniture and basic supplies. Hamed Ibrahim now relies on sporadic casual work after losing his self-employed income.

“Our homes were looted and destroyed. We found nothing inside. Everything was wrecked, and we had no furniture, no bedding, nothing at all,” he recounted. He and his family have exhausted their savings and are relying on loans from friends and relatives.

Recent weeks have seen fuel shortages and power outages in Khartoum, disrupting transportation and driving up fares. Long queues are common outside bakeries due to flour shortages. Authorities have implemented measures to address the transport crisis, including fuel supplies for public transport and government-sponsored lifts for employees.

Economic journalist Khalid Takes emphasized the need for greater government involvement in public transportation, moving away from reliance on private operators. He noted the costs associated with importing fuel and spare parts.

Mohamed Mahdi Makki Farah expressed a desire for assistance, stating that his family’s future in Khartoum depends on receiving support for housing, healthcare, and education.