After two years of displacement, Sudanese families begin their journey home
Photo: AFP
Two years since the civil war erupted in Sudan, millions of families remain uprooted, enduring life in harsh and uncertain conditions. Displaced from their homes, they face limited access to food, clean water, healthcare, and education. Among the most vulnerable are children, many of whom have now spent this time displaced, deprived of safety, stability, and schooling.
In response to the prolonged crisis, SOS Children’s Villages Sudan, in close coordination with the Red Sea State Ministry of Social Welfare, recently facilitated the voluntary return of 510 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including children, to their home state. While fighting continues in parts of Sudan, the city of Wad Madani in Al Jazirah has been declared safe for the families to resettle.
“For many of these families, life in displacement was incredibly difficult,” says Limia Ahmed, Deputy National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Sudan. “They had been living in overcrowded shelters or temporary camps for over a year, with their children constantly at risk and living with anxiety about what is next. By helping these families return home safely, we are restoring their hope and helping them stay together. In times of crisis, the presence of a parent is a child’s first and most important line of protection.”
The long road home
Originally from Al Jazirah, the families had fled the violence of central Sudan to seek refuge in the Red Sea. Located in northeastern Sudan along the Red Sea coast, the region has become a critical humanitarian hub during the conflict, hosting large numbers of displaced families due to its relative stability and functioning infrastructure.
Even there, they faced extreme challenges: poor sanitation, limited healthcare, malnutrition, and the trauma of prolonged uncertainty. Many parents deeply longed to return home, believing that reconnecting with their communities and land was essential for their children’s future.
“Some parents were in tears,” recalls Ms. Ahmed, who was there to support the families as they departed. “They were overwhelmed by the opportunity to return home. Parents shared their hope that returning to their communities would allow their children to regain a sense of stability and reconnect with their roots,” she says. “The return journey was marked by joy and reflection, and a step toward healing after enduring the trauma of displacement.”
A fragile return
While improved security in parts of Al Jazirah has made the journey home possible for some, challenges remain. The ongoing conflict has severely weakened Sudan’s social protection systems. Health services, schools, and livelihoods have been devastated, forcing families to rebuild from scratch.
“There is still a long road ahead for these families,” Ms. Ahmed says. “Many areas lack basic services, and national social protection systems are severely disrupted or non-functional. Families are relying heavily on humanitarian support and community solidarity.”
World’s largest displacement crisis
This repatriation effort comes as Sudan faces the largest displacement crisis in the world today, with over 12 million people forced from their homes. While limited resettlement like that to Al Jazirah offers hope, the broader crisis remains deeply unstable.
"Some parts of Sudan are beginning to see relative stability, allowing small numbers of families to return voluntarily,” explains Ms. Ahmed. “But for millions of others, returning home is not yet possible. We must not forget them.”
SOS Children’s Villages calls on the international community to urgently increase funding and support for humanitarian efforts in Sudan to meet the immediate needs and to invest in long-term recovery and peacebuilding.
“The repatriation of these 510 individuals shows what is possible when humanitarian organizations, governments, and communities come together,” says Ms. Ahmed. “But it is just the beginning. The children of Sudan deserve more than survival; they deserve a future built on security, education, and opportunity.”
The SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund allows us to act swiftly and effectively to support children and families during emergencies and to build resilience against future disasters in the communities we support. Please donate to this fund to enable us to respond when crises occur.