Khartoum returnees face financial strain amid damaged housing and utility gaps
UN data indicates 2.5 million people have returned to the capital, yet shortages in water, fuel, and employment persist for displaced families.
By Andrew Yang ·
State authorities in Khartoum announced on Saturday that new measures would prioritize fuel for public transport. Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza chaired a meeting where government departments were instructed to provide rides to residents commuting to work. The decision followed recurring electricity cuts and fuel shortages that disrupted bus services in recent weeks.
Passengers now face higher fares on certain routes and wait hours for buses. Bakery queues have stretched as flour shortages affect local bakers. These disruptions add to the financial pressure on families returning to the capital after years of displacement.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported in August 2026 that approximately 2.5 million people returned to Khartoum state. The agency noted that many lack the conditions to rebuild their lives. Homes remain damaged or uninhabitable, while jobs are scarce. Wartime infrastructure damage continues to restrict access to water and other basic services.
Broader data from the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix shows that approximately 5.27 million displaced Sudanese returned home across nine states as of September 30. Of those returnees, 82 percent were displaced within Sudan and 18 percent crossed borders. About half of the returnees were children.
Government victories over the Rapid Support Forces have brought greater stability to large areas, including around Khartoum. This stability has encouraged returns. The fighting between the army and the RSF began in April 2023 and continues in southeastern Sudan.
Abubakr Ishaq Hamed Ibrahim, 40, returned to Khartoum in February 2026 from River Nile state. He had fled in May 2023. His home was destroyed, and its furniture and bedding were taken. His family rented a house in Omdurman’s al-Thawra neighbourhood but fell behind on rent for several months without steady earnings.
Hamed Ibrahim, previously self-employed, now takes casual jobs. His family used up its savings and borrowed from relatives and friends for food, housing, and school fees. Support from relatives helped his children resume school. The family receives food assistance from organizations including the World Food Programme, with supplies such as sorghum, flour, wheat, oil, and sugar.
Moamed Mahdi Makki Farah, 51, returned to Jabal Awliya, south of Khartoum, in August 2025. He fled to el-Fasher in North Darfur in June 2023. The Sudanese Armed Forces declared Khartoum state free of Rapid Support Forces fighters before his return. He found his house wrecked and looted, including its utensils. Some family members sleep on the floor, while others live in rented accommodation.
Repairs remain beyond their means. A trader before the war, Makki Farah saw his business capital fall to nearly a third of its previous level due to the Sudanese pound’s depreciation. Medical bills, everyday expenses, and rent have prevented him from funding repairs. His family also lost important documents during the conflict and has had to begin replacing them.
“We have lost everything we had before the war,” Makki Farah said. He stated that further support was essential for the family to see a future in the capital.
