At least 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated after fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Exodus Figures
An approximated 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, primarily walking, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 refugees.
Escalated Forces Deployment
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.
Regional Citizens Describe Security Concerns
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of confrontations," the local stated.
Another inhabitant, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
Global Warnings and Requests
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The official cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The church leader on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the paramilitary group.
The diplomat further called on the international community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.
