By: Hawa Rahma
Port Sudan, July 6, 2025 – Al-Alq Center for Press Services
The war in Sudan continues unabated, and security threats persist even in relatively safe states crowded with displaced populations. In the past week, Red Sea State—home to the temporary administrative capital, Port Sudan—once again witnessed drone incursions by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which were met with anti-aircraft fire. The attacks rekindled fear among displaced people in shelters and city residents alike. The city, which had previously endured over a week of drone strikes, saw damage to strategic fuel depots and parts of the port, leading to a spike in food prices.
Amid the ongoing internal displacement crisis, Red Sea State has received approximately 239,000 displaced persons (47,000 families), of whom 25,000 families are hosted within urban neighborhoods. The rest are scattered across rented homes and improvised shelters, including school buildings.
However, deteriorating security in Port Sudan is prompting many citizens to make the difficult decision to leave the city and return to their hometowns—even though those areas also remain perilous.
Some Begin to Return
After two years of displacement, some families have begun returning to Khartoum, Al-Jazira, Sennar, White Nile, and Kordofan—areas recently recaptured by the army after previously being held by RSF forces.
Despite poor living conditions and limited services in these regions, many displaced individuals are opting to go home. Between 7 to 10 buses now depart daily from Port Sudan to other states. However, for many like Eslam, a displaced mother, returning to Khartoum is not an option due to the total collapse of services. She hopes instead to leave Sudan entirely with her children in search of a better future.
The increased demand for travel has driven up bus fares, with one-way tickets from Port Sudan reaching 100,000 Sudanese pounds per person. Luggage fees can cost up to half the ticket price, forcing many families to leave behind their belongings.
Displacement-Induced Trauma and Financial Strain
Extended displacement has placed immense psychological and financial pressure on families. With minimal or no humanitarian aid, returnees are calling for the urgent restoration of basic services—such as water, electricity, and police protection—especially given the widespread availability of weapons and fears of rising crime.
There are growing concerns that weapons once sold in local markets by RSF fighters during their control of various regions may now be in the hands of criminal gangs using them for armed robberies and assaults.
Questions Without Answers
Displaced persons living in schools or city neighborhoods frequently ask whether their hometowns are safe again, whether services have resumed, or if job opportunities exist. Since July of last year, authorities have begun pressing displaced families to vacate shelters—adding to their distress.
Observation shows that most returnees to government-controlled areas are women, children, and the elderly, while many young men choose to remain in Port Sudan. Youth fear both a resurgence of violence and possible persecution. Ahmed Abdullah, a young man, expressed concern over the lack of jobs in his hometown and said he is the sole breadwinner for his family still trapped in Khartoum. He added that many young men have been arrested or killed in RSF prisons.
Deep-Rooted Fears
Hajja Bakhita, a woman in her 50s, fears returning to Khartoum with her family, worried they might face retaliatory attacks. “Like everyone else, we found ourselves caught in this war,” she said. “We endured suffering and injustice, and never imagined it would lead to ethnic discrimination over a war we had no part in. I believe all of Sudan is our homeland, every corner of it—we reject war and do not support its continuation.”
Rising Prices Crushing Displaced Families
Soaring costs in Port Sudan are directly pushing families to return. A gallon of salty water costs 1,000 pounds, and clean drinking water goes for 1,500 pounds. Even simple surgical procedures are now priced in billions of pounds, making medical care unattainable for many.
A Return to Camps
Some families who returned to Khartoum have returned to displacement camps, shocked by the poor environmental and health conditions. In Omdurman, cholera has spread, and water and electricity remain unavailable. East Nile and Haj Yousif areas suffer from severe insecurity, prompting many to remain in camps until health and security threats subside.
Cash Shortages and Banking Barriers
Lack of income and difficulty accessing cash are among the biggest hurdles for returnees. Many are unable to open bank accounts or conduct financial transactions. Poor telecommunications and internet services in Khartoum have also hindered money transfers—vital for families relying on relatives or aid.
Over 10 Million Internally Displaced
According to UN reports, more than 10 million people are internally displaced as of mid-2025, and over 4 million have fled to neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that over 1,189,893 internally displaced persons have returned to 20 localities across Khartoum, Al-Jazira, and Sennar by the end of May 2025.
Yet this crisis continues to fuel social divisions and accusations between warring parties. Cases of ethnic and tribal discrimination persist, alongside the absence of law, justice, and civilian protection, with no meaningful return of essential services.
This report is published by the Sudanese Media Forum and its partner institutions, based on content from Al-Alq Center for Press Services. It highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the hardships of displacement, and the complex challenges facing displaced persons as they consider whether to return home—despite the lack of services, broken infrastructure, and looming threats.
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