At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled after capture of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.
The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Substantial Evacuation Numbers
An estimated 36,825 people evacuated from five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.
Area Inhabitants Describe Security Concerns
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing fighting," the individual commented.
Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
Global Concerns and Requests
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing 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 negotiate with the armed faction.
The representative further encouraged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.