Over 36,000 Sudanese people have fled since takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The key central region between the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.
Significant Evacuation Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Increased Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video message.
Area Inhabitants Report Protection Issues
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown considerably since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing confrontations," the local stated.
Another inhabitant, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
Global Warnings and Calls
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The representative warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment 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 charged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The ambassador further called on the international community to designate the group as a terrorist entity.
