Image of refugees on a train, highlighting Africa’s efforts to support displaced people returning home with free train rides.
In a rare glimmer of hope amid a brutal civil war, hundreds of Sudanese refugees began boarding free trains from Cairo this week, beginning their long journey back home. Funded by the Egyptian government, the route stretches over 2,000 kilometers to Khartoum, which was recently reclaimed by the Sudanese Armed Forces after a year under Rapid Support Forces control. Though much of the capital lies in ruins, signs of life are slowly returning as residents return and activities resume. Over 1.5 million Sudanese had fled to Egypt since the conflict erupted in April 2023, part of a wider displacement crisis that uprooted over 7 million people. For many on the train, the journey home is bittersweet—filled with both the joy of reunion and the uncertainty of rebuilding shattered lives.
AP