Over 36,000 Sudanese people have fled after fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.
The key central region separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Displacement Figures
An approximated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.
Area Residents Report Protection Issues
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing confrontations," the individual commented.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
Global Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the armed faction.
The diplomat further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist entity.