At least 36,000 Sudanese people have escaped following fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
Over 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's immigration body.
The key central region between the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has over recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Significant Evacuation Figures
An approximated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating in excess of 652,000 refugees.
Increased Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a critical supply and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.
Area Residents Report Safety Fears
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about fighting," the local commented.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also confirmed that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
World Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The official alerted to patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The church leader on Sunday urged an prompt truce and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.
The ambassador further called on the international community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.