Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated since takeover of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
More than 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Substantial Evacuation Numbers
An calculated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 refugees.
Escalated Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.
Regional Citizens Detail Protection Issues
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had grown considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing confrontations," the local explained.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
Global Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The representative alerted to patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The ambassador further encouraged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.
