Over 36,000 Sudanese people have fled since takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
Over 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Substantial Evacuation Statistics
An approximated 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 people, most on foot, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both armed factions are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.
Regional Residents Report Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing fighting," the local explained.
Another resident, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
World Concerns and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the creation of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The representative further urged the international community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.