UN Migration Agency Reports Decrease in Sudan’s Internally Displaced Population
Sudan continues to grapple with one of the world’s largest displacement crises, but new data shows a slight improvement. The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has dropped by 1.65 million since its peak earlier this year.
As of July 2025, nearly 9,937,444 people were displaced across Sudan’s 18 states, compared to a record 11.5 million in January 2025. The reduction is largely due to returns from displacement, as families slowly move back to their original homes.
The steepest relative declines in IDP populations were recorded in:
- Kassala (20%)
- Red Sea (14%)
- River Nile (11%)
Most of these IDPs returned to Khartoum, Al Jazirah, Sennar, and other central states.
Despite this positive trend, conflict zones like Darfur continue to generate new waves of displacement. Fighting in Al Fasher, North Darfur, has led to repeated uprooting of families who are forced to relocate within the region.
Since the war began in April 2023, more than 7.5 million Sudanese have been displaced for the first time. The majority come from Khartoum (31%), South Darfur (21%), and North Darfur (20%). Nearly half of IDPs live with host families, highlighting the strain on local communities.
The crisis has also spilled across borders. Between January 2024 and July 2025, around 272,000 Sudanese returned from Egypt, yet over 4.2 million have fled into neighboring countries including Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan since the start of the conflict.
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