Sudan Calls for International Aid as Millions Return Home
Sudan has called on United Nations agencies to assist in providing essential support for 2.2 million people who have returned to their homes in areas recently recaptured by the army from paramilitary forces, according to the country’s representative in Geneva.
The returnees include 1.7 million internally displaced individuals and others who have come back from neighboring countries such as Egypt, South Sudan, and Chad after the military regained control of Khartoum, Sennar, and Al Jazirah states.
At a briefing organized by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which included the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Ambassador Hassan Hamid emphasized the government’s efforts to meet the immediate needs of those returning.
“The government is currently working to provide for the immediate needs of returnees, including basic services,” Hamid stated, as reported by the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
He urged humanitarian organizations to implement urgent projects, highlighting that the government’s priorities include restoring basic services, rehabilitating facilities destroyed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and preparing for more returnees.
Since the army retook full control of Khartoum state in May, the government has focused on restoring water, health, and education services while rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including the capital’s international airport.
Approximately 815,000 people have returned to Khartoum, with another 2.9 million expected to follow, according to the government.
Urgent Need for Health Sector Support
Hamid also called on international bodies to support the Ministry of Health’s efforts to combat a dengue fever outbreak, citing the “systematic destruction” of the health sector.
He condemned what he described as the “militia’s atrocities,” accusing the RSF of using siege and starvation as weapons to kill or displace civilians, despite international appeals, including U.N. Security Council Resolution 2736.
The Security Council resolution demands the RSF lift its siege on El Fasher in North Darfur, which has been in place since April 2024. The blockade has cut off food and medicine to the city, which still shelters more than 260,000 civilians.
Ongoing Blockades in South Kordofan
Hamid further highlighted that the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) are jointly blockading Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan state, preventing almost all aid from reaching the two cities.
This ongoing conflict has created a dire situation for civilians in these regions, with limited access to essential supplies and services.
Challenges Ahead
As the situation continues to evolve, the need for coordinated international support remains critical. The Sudanese government is striving to rebuild and restore stability, but the scale of the humanitarian crisis requires sustained global attention and resources.
With the number of returnees expected to grow, the focus must remain on ensuring that all affected populations receive the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives.
