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IOM operates from Khartoum

Moatinoon
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reopened its office in Khartoum to expand its humanitarian and recovery operations in the capital, becoming the first UN agency to re-establish a presence in the city since the conflict erupted in April 2023. The organizations return comes at a critical time, as more than two million people have returned to areas perceived as safer.

"The pace of returns to urban areas is accelerating, but conditions remain volatile," said IOM Director General Amy Poop. "Families are trying to rebuild their communities, already strained by years of displacement and economic hardship, stretching social support networks and local capacities to their limits."

The organization said the trend of returns is not limited to the capital. She noted that nearly two million people returned to Sudan through 1,611 locations in Al Jazirah, Khartoum, Sennar, Blue Nile, White Nile, River Nile, and West Darfur between November 2024 and July 2025. Three out of four of these returnees came from locations within Sudan.

The organization expressed concerns about the environmental and health conditions in the return areas, stating that many families arrive to find their homes damaged or uninhabitable, electricity and clean water remain scarce, healthcare is limited, and the risk of cholera remains.

She stated that IOMs return to Khartoum will support the country during this complex recovery phase. She emphasized that the office will serve as an inter-agency hub, enabling the United Nations and humanitarian partners to scale up life-saving assistance and support early recovery in urban areas where needs are concentrated.

She added that she will work closely with authorities and partners to ensure that returning communities have access to basic services. Support will target both returnees and residents who never left, recognizing that recovery requires rebuilding services for entire communities.

To accelerate relief and recovery efforts, IOM urgently appealed for flexible funding of US29 million to support humanitarian efforts in Khartoum alone. The organization also urged all parties to facilitate safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access.