At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated since takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency
More than 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.
The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Evacuation Numbers
An calculated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The people, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 displaced people.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command hub that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.
Area Inhabitants Describe Security Concerns
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of clashes," the resident explained.
Another civilian, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, 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.
World Warnings and Calls
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The church leader on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of aid passageways in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further urged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist entity.
