Over 36,000 Sudanese people have fled after takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency
Over 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.
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 militia group.
Significant Evacuation Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.
Local Residents Describe Protection Issues
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about fighting," the local explained.
Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
International Warnings and Appeals
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The church leader on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The representative further encouraged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.