Nairobi, September 22 (Darfur24)
More than 5.1 million Sudanese have returned to their areas of origin since the outbreak of war, while about 8.6 million remain internally displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In a statement on Monday, IOM said data from its Displacement Tracking Matrix showed that 5,145,165 people had returned to 76 localities across nine states, representing a 4% increase from the previous month.
Meanwhile, more than 8 million people remain displaced across 185 localities, a decline of about 1% from the previous month and 26% from the peak of displacement recorded during the conflict.
IOM warned that many returnees face damaged homes, schools and health facilities, as well as limited livelihood opportunities, raising the risk that some families could be displaced again.
IOM Director General Amy Pope described the return of more than five million people as a sign of “courage and hope,” but stressed that returning home is only the beginning of rebuilding their lives.
The agency said 82% of returnees—about 4.2 million people—had previously been displaced within Sudan, while 18%, or roughly 930,000, had returned from abroad.
Among those returning from other countries, Egypt accounted for 50%, followed by South Sudan at 25%, Libya at 10% and Gulf countries at 8%.
IOM called on governments, donors, development partners, international financial institutions and humanitarian organizations to strengthen basic services, rehabilitate infrastructure and support livelihoods in areas receiving returnees.
The agency also urged greater support for host communities to help them cope with the additional pressure created by returning and displaced populations.
Despite the increase in returns, IOM said Sudan continues to have one of the world’s largest internally displaced populations.