More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled since takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Exodus Numbers
An approximated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.
Area Residents Report Safety Fears
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of confrontations," the resident stated.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed 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 last fourteen days.
International Concerns and Requests
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The ambassador further called on the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist entity.
