Return to Destroyed Khartoum: Restoration of Life

• More than 12 million people have been forced to leave their homes in Sudan.
• The restoration of Khartoum requires billions of dollars, but services remain limited.
• People are relying on charitable kitchens due to the lack of work and resources.

KHARTOUM, Sudan — A woman named Afaf al-Tayeb has returned to her destroyed home in the Khartoum province in the red, feeling safe for the first time since the moment when the Sudanese army announced that it had taken control of the capital with the support of swift forces.

Afaf and her son, Mohamed al-Kedr, have relocated four times since the beginning of the war in Sudan. Their house in the Al-Kavaz area was destroyed by fire in the midst of all the events that reminded them of their past. She noted that the destruction of the house left her in tears.

According to recent assessments from the International Organization for Migration, approximately 1.2 million people have returned to Sudan since June 2024 of this year.

Since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, more than 12 million people have been forced to leave their homes, with 3.2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people and triggered several epidemics.

In Khartoum, where the fiercest battles took place, the army reported that it had restored control over the capital, including important facilities, such as the airport. However, the return to normal life is complicated.

Mohamed Elbalal, a representative of a charity kitchen in Khartoum, noted that those who return find their homes destroyed and without basic services. They are struggling with the lack of electricity, water, and medical assistance.

In Khartoum, electrical substations have been destroyed, and cables have been torn from the ground. According to a government representative in the province of Altiob Saada, 77 substations were damaged and destroyed.

The Khartoum government has begun work on restoration, focusing on restoring essential services, such as electricity and water. The restoration of Khartoum could cost billions of dollars.

Afaf al-Tayeb stated that, despite the disappearance of the swift forces' support, her family still faces difficulties due to the lack of water and electricity, relying on expensive bottled water and solar panels for electricity.

She questioned why Khartoum was abandoned when they were left without basic services. Her neighbors also returned home, but it turned out that their homes were partially destroyed.

According to the information provided by Elbalal, the lack of infrastructure forces people to seek work, forcing them to rely on charitable kitchens to obtain food.

Despite the restoration, the residents of Khartoum are facing new challenges, such as rising crime rates and disorder, which are a consequence of the absence of public order.

Tags: Well-being