At least 36,000 Sudanese have evacuated after fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency
More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.
The key central region separating the country's Darfur regions 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 Evacuation Numbers
An calculated 36,825 people fled five districts in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, primarily walking, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 displaced people.
Heightened Military Presence
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.
Regional Residents Report Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the quantity of RSF vehicles had risen considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of confrontations," the individual commented.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed 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 past two weeks.
World Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat alerted to patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.
The representative further urged the international community to classify the group as a terrorist group.
