At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled after fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Substantial Evacuation Numbers
An calculated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 displaced people.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video message.
Area Citizens Report Safety Fears
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the number of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of fighting," the resident commented.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
International Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The representative cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.
The ambassador further called on the global community to designate the group as a terrorist group.
