At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled after fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
Over 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Significant Displacement Figures
An approximated 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 people, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Heightened Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both forces are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.
Area Citizens Detail Protection Issues
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about fighting," the resident stated.
Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
World Warnings and Requests
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further called on the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.
