Nearly 1.65 million IDPs return home as Sudan displacement numbers fall
9,937,444 million people remained displaced across the country's 18 states during the period under review, down from a record 11.5 million IDPs recorded in January 2025.
The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan has fallen by nearly 1.65 million since January 2025, the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported, as many of them continue to return to their homes.
According to IOM's latest Sudan Mobility Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) 20, covering between June 25 and July 29, at least 9.9 million people remained displaced across the country's 18 states during the period under review, down from a record 11.5 million IDPs recorded in January 2025.
The DTM is a system used to monitor population movements in Sudan. It gathers data through 550 field workers and nearly 11,000 local sources across more than 11,400 sites, helping provide accurate estimates for humanitarian agencies
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According to the DTM, out of the 9.9 million displaced people, about 7.5 million were forced from their homes after fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RASF) in April 2023.
"As of 29 July 2025, there were an estimated 9,937,444 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan. This figure represents a decrease of 1,647,940 individuals compared to the highest IDP population recorded by DTM Sudan, which was an estimated 11.5 million IDPs reported in January 2025," the document, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, read in part.
"The decrease in total IDPs reflected increased return movements."
The largest drops in displaced populations were recorded in Kassala (20 per cent), Red Sea (14 per cent), River Nile (11 per cent), Al Jazirah (8 per cent), Gedaref (6 per cent) and Blue Nile (6 per cent) states.
"The states with the biggest relative increase in IDPs were Khartoum (32 per cent), followed by West Darfur (3 per cent increase). The IDP population across Central Darfur, East Darfur, South Darfur, and West Kordofan increased by one per cent compared to the IDP population hosted in these states in June 2025," the DTM reads.
Overall, IDPs were recorded in 10,731 sites across 185 localities in all 18 states.
"The top states of origin were Khartoum (31 per cent), South Darfur (21 per cent), and North Darfur (20 per cent). The top states of origin have shifted compared to the highest population of IDPs recorded by DTM Sudan in January 2025 due to increased return movements," says the DTM.
"As of July 29, 2025, an estimated 3,034,254 IDPs reportedly originated in Khartoum, compared to a peak of 3,770,161 IDPs from Khartoum recorded in June 2024. The decrease reflects IDPs from Khartoum who moved abroad or who returned to locations of origin in Khartoum."
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