More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following capture of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
More than 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration agency.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.
Significant Exodus Statistics
An estimated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering in excess of 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Increased Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across communities throughout the state.
Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video message.
Area Citizens Detail Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing clashes," the local stated.
Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, 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.
International Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The representative alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.
The representative further called on the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.
