2.5.6. Conflict-induced displacement and return

According to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Data, as of 3 December 2024, there were over 1.5 million IDPs documented in the North, including 534 262 in Northern state and 994 550 in River Nile state. Most IDPs in Northern state originated from Khartoum (87 %), while the second-largest group of the state’s IDP population originated from Al Jazirah (7 %) and the third-largest group originated from the state itself (2 %). Similarly, the majority of IDPs in River Nile were from Khartoum (79 %) while about 11 % originated from Al Jazirah and 7 % originated from the state itself. Another 2 % originated from Sennar state.959

Table 5. 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. This table only displays the state of origin with the highest percentage of IDPs in each state of displacement.960

In March 2024, the Sudan Tribune reported that IDPs in River Nile state were facing shortages of food and other essential supplies. According to a humanitarian aid responsive in River Nile state, an estimated 1 980 000 displaced families were living in 288 shelters across the state, including 95 shelters in Atbara city.961 As of July 2024, the Sudanese Red Crescent reported Northern state to have become one of the states with the largest share of IDPs particularly from Khartoum.962 Many IDPs suffered from chronic conditions, causing the best-equipped hospital in the region, Wadi Halfa, to be severely overcrowded.963 While hospitals were overcrowded and reportedly lacked treatment for malnutrition, food in Northern state was available but not affordable to most IDPs.964

A November 2024 Al Taghyeer article reported that more than 34 IDPs from Omdurman had been expelled by the population from River Nile state’s Makniya area due to their Christian faith.965