Over 36,000 Sudanese have escaped since fall of El Fasher to RSF, states UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The strategic central area between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the militia group.
Significant Displacement Statistics
An estimated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 refugees.
Increased Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence 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 important strategic and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.
Local Citizens Report Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of confrontations," the individual commented.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
International Concerns and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The church leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not engage with the militia organization.
The diplomat further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.