Khartoum: A total of 1,174 Sudanese citizens have voluntarily returned home from Egypt as part of Sudan's ongoing efforts to repatriate nationals wishing to return from abroad.

According to Anadolu Agency, the voluntary return committee organized 24 buses to transport the Sudanese citizens from Egypt to Sudan. This operation was supported by the General Secretariat of the Sudanese Zakat Chamber, a government body, and was attended by its secretary-general, Yahya Ahmed Al-Qamrawi.

Mohamed Wadaa, head of the voluntary return committee, stated that the committee is dedicated to continuing these repatriation efforts until all nationals who wish to return have been brought home. Additionally, preparations are being made for the return of Sudanese nationals from Libya via the Salloum border crossing, as well as the return of 12 Sudanese university professors and their families.

Wadaa emphasized that priority is given to sick and elderly citizens, who are being brought back to Sudan using various means of transportation, including air travel. Earlier, Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris expressed his support for the voluntary return of Sudanese nationals from host countries in a post on X.

Since the onset of the war in Sudan in April 2023, over 1.2 million Sudanese have fled to Egypt, based on official estimates. Prior to the conflict, Egypt was home to approximately 5 million Sudanese, making it a primary destination for those escaping the war.

The conflict, which began due to disagreements between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces over the integration of the paramilitary group into the military, has resulted in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing about 13 million people.