At least 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated since fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency
Over 36,000 civilians have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Exodus Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering over 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.
Local Citizens Report Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing fighting," the local stated.
Another resident, who requested anonymity 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 Concerns and Appeals
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The representative cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The ambassador further encouraged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.
