At least 36,000 Sudanese have escaped after capture of El Fasher to RSF, states UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
Significant Exodus Figures
An calculated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 displaced people.
Increased Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a critical supply and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.
Local Residents Report Safety Fears
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, afraid of clashes," the resident commented.
Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, 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.
Global Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The official cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further urged the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.