Sudanese Returnees Relieved as Khartoum Airport Reopens After Three Years of War
Three years after the outbreak of war in Sudan, Khartoum International Airport has resumed domestic flights, marking a significant milestone for displaced residents returning to the capital. The airport, once a stronghold for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and heavily damaged during intense battles with the Sudanese army, now serves as a gateway for over 1.8 million returnees, though central Khartoum remains largely deserted. While passengers express profound relief and emotion upon landing, the city faces severe challenges, including decimated infrastructure, widespread unexploded ordnance, and a lack of basic utilities like water and electricity. The United Nations reports that fewer than 80,000 people have returned to downtown Khartoum, which resembles a ghost town with shattered buildings and mass graves. Additionally, the UN Environment Programme warns of a toxic legacy, citing stagnant sewage and water as breeding grounds for disease. Despite the hazardous conditions and ongoing mine clearance efforts, the resumption of air travel from Port Sudan symbolizes a tentative step toward normalcy and reconstruction for a population exhausted by conflict.
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Sudanese Returnees Relieved as Khartoum Airport Reopens After Three Years of War
Three years after the outbreak of war in Sudan, Khartoum International Airport has resumed domestic flights, marking a significant milestone for displaced residents returning to the capital. The airport, once a stronghold for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and heavily damaged during intense battles with the Sudanese army, now serves as a gateway for over 1.8 million returnees, though central Khartoum remains largely deserted. While passengers express profound relief and emotion upon landing, the city faces severe challenges, including decimated infrastructure, widespread unexploded ordnance, and a lack of basic utilities like water and electricity. The United Nations reports that fewer than 80,000 people have returned to downtown Khartoum, which resembles a ghost town with shattered buildings and mass graves. Additionally, the UN Environment Programme warns of a toxic legacy, citing stagnant sewage and water as breeding grounds for disease. Despite the hazardous conditions and ongoing mine clearance efforts, the resumption of air travel from Port Sudan symbolizes a tentative step toward normalcy and reconstruction for a population exhausted by conflict.
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