Sudanese returnees find homes in ruins

Sudanese returnees face devastation as they come home to regions recovering from conflict. Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces has displaced nearly 13 million people, with approximately 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to recent UNHCR reports.

As relative stability returns to parts of Sudan, many displaced citizens have begun returning home. In March, the Red Sea State government partnered with NGOs to facilitate voluntary returns for those who had fled to eastern Sudan. Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates nearly 400,000 Sudanese have returned to their hometowns between late December 2024 and March 2025.

"I was forced to flee my hometown seven or eight months ago. The experience was full of hardship and sorrow. This return program helped reunite me with my family," shared one returnee.

However, many are discovering their homes reduced to rubble or stripped of belongings. Critical infrastructure has been severely damaged, creating serious challenges including water and electricity shortages, collapsed waste management systems, and increased risk of disease outbreaks.

The education sector has been particularly devastated, with UNICEF reporting approximately 90 percent of schools closed and 17 million students forced to drop out. Despite these challenges, some dedicated educators continue teaching under difficult circumstances.

"Despite the dire circumstances, I firmly believe that education must not be interrupted. We are doing everything we can to keep the school running," said a local teacher.

The conflict has claimed at least 29,700 lives and created what the United Nations describes as a "humanitarian crisis of industrial proportions," with recovery efforts hampered by destroyed infrastructure and limited resources as communities attempt to rebuild.