At least 36,000 Sudanese people have fled after fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency
More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The key central region separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Evacuation Figures
An approximated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 refugees.
Increased Forces Deployment
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently shared video message.
Local Citizens Detail Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing confrontations," the resident commented.
Another inhabitant, who requested anonymity for security reasons, 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.
Global Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The representative cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances 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 stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The ambassador further called on the international community to classify the group as a terrorist group.