The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday that nearly four million Sudanese citizens have fled to neighboring countries since the outbreak of conflict between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. Additionally, for the first time, the IOM recorded a decrease in the number of internally displaced persons within Sudan.

According to the United Nations agency, approximately 3,934,086 individuals have crossed Sudan’s borders into neighboring nations since April 15, 2023. Meanwhile, an estimated 8,596,622 people have been displaced internally since the war began.

The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the IOM’s monitoring tool, calculated a total of over 11.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), forced to move to 10,285 sites in 185 localities across all 18 Sudanese states, including those displaced before and after the conflict erupted in 2023.

The most affected regions fueling these displacements are Khartoum (31%), South Darfur (18%), and North Darfur (16%), the IOM’s report highlighted. More than half (53%) of Sudan’s internally displaced population are minors.

The IOM defines an IDP in Sudan as any individual forced to flee their habitual residence due to events dating back to 2003. Notably, the organization reported a 2.4% decrease in internal displacement numbers, attributed to return movements. This marks the first recorded decline in IDP figures since the start of the conflict. Between December 18, 2024, and March 4, 2025, approximately 396,738 individuals returned to their places of origin, according to the IOM.

The IOM also monitored a significant increase in cross-border movements from Egypt to Sudan during the first quarter of 2025, with a monthly return rate nearly seven times higher than that of 2024. Official Sudanese media recently reported that thousands of Sudanese nationals are waiting on the Egyptian side of the border to return home following the recapture of Khartoum by Sudanese Armed Forces in late March. The military expelled the RSF paramilitary group southward and westward from the capital.

The war, which broke out on April 15, 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths—estimates suggest up to 150,000, according to U.S. sources—and has forced millions to flee their homes. While the recapture of Khartoum marks a potential turning point, the humanitarian crisis remains acute, with urgent needs for shelter, food, and medical aid across the displaced population.

EN ESTA NOTA: