Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated following fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The key central region separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has over recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the militia group.
Substantial Displacement Figures
An approximated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Military Presence
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.
Local Residents Report Protection Issues
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing confrontations," the local commented.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also confirmed that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.
International Warnings and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the creation of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further encouraged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.
