After more than two years of relentless conflict, basic services across Khartoum State have effectively collapsed. Water systems in multiple localities are non-functional, power supply is sporadic, and most health facilities remain non-functional. Khartoum also faces massive and complex explosive hazard contamination with widespread presence of unexploded ordnance and confirmed anti-personnel and anti-vehicle landmines in at least six locations, with urban areas and critical infrastructure heavily impacted. These hazards not only present a direct risk to lives of civilians, including returnees, but hinder safe access for civilians to basic services, impede aid workers to safely deliver services and for the safe repair and rehabilitation of essential services. The mine action area of responsibility has deployed teams to begin to clear critical areas, but the scale of need far outweighs the current response capacity.
The disruption of waste management and water treatment infrastructure has compounded public health risks, particularly in underserved areas such as Umbada, Jebel Awlia and parts of Sharg An Nil, which had some of the lowest socio-economic indicators even prior to the conflict. Markets are barely functioning, and formal banking systems are largely inaccessible. Against this backdrop, humanitarian needs continue to escalate across multiple clusters, including food security, health, WASH and protection. Coping capacities are rapidly diminishing: in Umbadda, only 65 out 80 community kitchens remain functional, while in Sharg Al Nil, 155 out of 215 are operational according to Mutual Aid Groups (MAGs) representatives. Outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever are placing further strain on an already overwhelmed population. Likewise, civilians, including children, are increasingly affected by accidents related to explosive ordnance (EO).
Despite extremely challenging conditions, spontaneous returns continue, largely driven by economic hardship and the absence of viable alternatives. Local authorities estimate that more than 1 million displaced people have returned to Khartoum State. Moreover, IOM estimates that between November 2024 and June 2025, approximately 605,797 individuals - 118,663 households - have returned to different locations in seven localities of Khartoum: Bahri (38%), Jebel Awlia (16%), Um Bada (13%), Um Durman (13%), Sharg An Neel (10%), Khartoum (6%), and Karrari (4%). Return movements are expected to accelerate in the coming months, given that more than 3.1 million displaced people are residents who fled the capital after war broke out in April 2023.
The operating environment remains relatively constrained, limiting the ability of humanitarian actors to conduct multi-sectoral assessments and engage local responders. Intermittent telecommunications blackouts continue to hinder coordination, surveillance and rapid incident reporting. In parallel, the widespread civilian possession of small arms and the psychological toll of conflict have contributed to a pervasive atmosphere of insecurity. The situation is further exacerbated by the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) across the state. The National Mine Action Center (NMAC) reported 40 explosive incidents involving mines or explosive remnants of war (ERWs) between April and early May 2025, figures likely to increase as more returns occur to contaminated areas. These threats present an ongoing hazard not only to civilians trying to return, but also to aid workers seeking to scale up operations in formerly contested zones.
Access conditions in Khartoum State have gradually improved compared to the period between March and May 2025, after SAF regained full control of the state, but significant bureaucratic impediments remain. Humanitarian partners expanded operations, reaching an estimated 1.6 million people with some form of humanitarian assistance despite the volatile security environment between January and June 2025. Humanitarian response activities have been implemented across all Khartoum localities, with over 60 NGOs, including approximately 20 INGOs, currently approved to operate in Khartoum State. However, the quality and scale of the response remain constrained due to funding shortfalls and limited technical capacity.
