Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.
Massive Displacement Statistics
An estimated 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 civilians, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 displaced people.
Increased Forces Deployment
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.
Area Inhabitants Report Protection Issues
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, afraid of clashes," the individual stated.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
International Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The representative further encouraged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.