2.1.6. Conflict-induced displacement and return

As IOM reported, most IDPs fled Khartoum thereby making Khartoum the most common area of origin for IDPs in Sudan666 (accounting for 32 % of all IDPs in the country), with IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Data showing that a total of 3 719 212 IDPs from Khartoum were found across all the country’s 18 states.667 788 247 (21 %) of these IDPs were living in neighbouring River Nile state, 559 431 (15 %) in Gedaref state, 500 744 (13 %) in White Nile state, 465 339 (13 %) in Northern state, and 360 240 (10 %) in East Darfur state.668

Table 1. This table provides information collected by IOM field teams on displacement since 15 April 2023 at state level. It disaggregates data into states of origin and displacement.669

Significant numbers of people have already been displaced from Khartoum prior to the beginning of the reference period.670 MSF noted that despite the ‘mass exodus’ triggered by the conflict, there was still a large number of people in the state ‘who either could not afford to flee or were unable to do so due to vulnerabilities or insecurity’.671

There have been several reports of civilians being displaced by fighting in the Greater Khartoum area during the reference period.672 September and October 2024 saw increased displacement673 resulting from fighting during the offensive launched by the SAF in September 2024.674 Information on returns of IDPs and refugees to Khartoum state could not be found within the time constraints of this report.

According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Data, as of the start of December 2024, there were 100 026 IDPs documented in Khartoum state (the lowest number across all states). Most IDPs living in Khartoum state (90 %) had been displaced within the state, while 8 % were from Al Jazirah state.675 Families were reported to be sheltering in public buildings (e.g. schools) after losing their homes in Khartoum.676