More than 36,000 Sudanese people have escaped since fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency
More than 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Substantial Exodus Statistics
An approximated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 refugees.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently shared video message.
Area Citizens Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing confrontations," the resident explained.
Another resident, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also confirmed that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
World Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The representative warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further urged the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.
