The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has facilitated the safe return of 151 Nigerians from war-torn Sudan through a charter flight under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme.
IOM confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, noting that the evacuation is the third of such operations this year as Sudan continues to grapple with a conflict that has displaced nearly 10 million people.
According to IOM data, as of August 26, 2025, about 9.8 million internally displaced persons had been recorded across 185 localities in Sudan, while over 4.3 million others have crossed into neighbouring countries since April 2023 when the crisis escalated.
The Deputy Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria, Paola Pace, described the latest return as “a new beginning and the first step towards recovery for the migrants.”
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope,” she said.
Among the returnees are university students whose studies were disrupted, elderly people who lost their means of livelihood, and vulnerable groups who endured months of limited access to essential services and persistent threats to their safety.
The statement revealed that the operation was coordinated with the Sudanese Passport and Immigration Authorities as well as the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan, which played a key role in identifying stranded nationals and facilitating their travel documents.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the returnees will undergo medical screening, mental health and psychosocial support, vulnerability assessments, and counselling. They will also be provided with safe accommodation, fresh meals, and referrals for specialised services.
IOM further disclosed that, as part of reintegration efforts, returnees will benefit from business skills training and other income-generating support.
“This rapid succession of voluntary return operations reflects the urgency of responding to Sudan’s crisis, which has become the world’s largest displacement emergency,” the organisation stressed.
Since the onset of the conflict, IOM has evacuated thousands of stranded nationals from Sudan, including Nigerians, under its VHR programme
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