Over 36,000 Sudanese people have fled after capture of El Fasher to paramilitary group, states UN agency
Over 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.
The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Exodus Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering over 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.
Local Residents Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing confrontations," the local commented.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, 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.
International Warnings 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 echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The diplomat further encouraged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.
