More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following capture of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration agency.
The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.
Significant Evacuation Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 displaced people.
Increased Forces Deployment
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.
Area Residents Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of clashes," the resident commented.
Another resident, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
Global Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The representative alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The diplomat further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.