Beyond Borders: Australia–Sudan Engagement
Malak Foundation Visits Sudan and Egypt to Assess Humanitarian Needs and Inform Future Programs
June 2025 | Malak Foundation
Members of the Malak Foundation have recently returned from a field visit to Egypt and Sudan as part of our ongoing efforts to better understand the humanitarian crisis on the ground and design programs that directly respond to the needs of affected communities.
The visit, conducted in May and June 2025, included overland travel from Cairo through northern Sudan, with key stops in Dongola, Karima, Atbara, and several towns surrounding Khartoum. The team then travelled to Port Sudan—the temporary administrative capital for Sudan’s military authority during the war—before returning to Egypt. Along the way, the team met with civilians, local leaders, military personnel, displaced persons, and humanitarian workers.
First-Hand Insight into the Crisis
What we witnessed was deeply sobering. In RSF-controlled areas, the scale of destruction is massive and systematic. Entire neighbourhoods have been looted, public services dismantled, and communities displaced. In contrast, SAF-held regions such as northern Sudan and Port Sudan show signs of fragile stability, with limited but functional access to food, water, communication, and banking services.
People across the country are trying to survive against unimaginable odds, with most displaced families expressing a clear desire to return home and rebuild, even in the absence of guarantees or compensation. In Darfur, displacement continues, and many people remain unreachable due to insecurity.
Listening to Communities
This visit gave us the opportunity to listen directly to those impacted by the conflict. People spoke of profound loss, fear, and disruption—but also shared remarkable stories of resilience. Despite limited support, many are finding ways to restart their lives and revive small local economies, determined to rebuild from the ground up.
We also witnessed the challenges faced by returning migrants. Each week, an estimated 11,500 to 12,000 Sudanese are voluntarily returning from Egypt to Sudan, with around 32 buses departing Cairo weekly.
The majority are undocumented displaced individuals, often returning with little support, limited resources, and no clear reintegration plan. Others continue to face danger by relying on unsafe smuggling routes to cross borders.
Informing Our Next Steps
Based on our visit, the Malak Foundation is now working on several initiatives to support those most in need:
Diaspora Engagement for Reconstruction: We’re building partnerships with Sudanese professionals abroad to support rebuilding efforts in education, health, and entrepreneurship.
Migration and Returnee Support: We're exploring ways to support safe, voluntary return and reintegration for Sudanese migrants in Egypt and beyond.
University and Youth Engagement: Recognising the role of higher education as a pillar of recovery, we are mapping future collaborations between Sudanese and international universities to create knowledge-sharing platforms.
Why This Matters
The situation in Sudan is one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world today, but it is also one of the most underreported. As a foundation committed to human dignity and resilience, we believe that action must be grounded in deep listening, cultural understanding, and collaboration.
We thank all those who opened their homes and shared their experiences with us. Your voices guide our work.
How You Can Help
Partner with us as a volunteer, advisor, or supporter.
Share this story to raise awareness about the people of Sudan and the urgent need for global solidarity.
For media inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please contact us at: info@malakfoundation.org
