More than 36,000 Sudanese people have fled since takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Exodus Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five localities in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Military Presence
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.
Area Citizens Report Protection Issues
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about fighting," the resident stated.
Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.
Global Warnings and Calls
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire 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 committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the militia organization.
The representative further encouraged the international community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.
