More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following capture of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Significant Exodus Statistics
An calculated 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 individuals, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 displaced people.
Heightened Military Presence
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.
Local Citizens Detail Protection Issues
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about clashes," the individual explained.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
World Concerns and Requests
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday urged an prompt truce and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not engage with the militia organization.
The representative further encouraged the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.
