More than 36,000 Sudanese have escaped since takeover of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency

Over 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the militia group.

Substantial Exodus Statistics

An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The people, most on foot, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 displaced people.

Increased Troop Concentration

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday reported a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across communities throughout the state.

Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video message.

Area Residents Describe Security Concerns

A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of fighting," the resident commented.

Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, also reported that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

International Concerns and Appeals

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.

The representative cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.

The diplomat further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.