More than 36,000 Sudanese people have escaped following capture of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Significant Evacuation Numbers
An estimated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 refugees.
Increased Forces Deployment
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply 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 statement.
Area Citizens Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the number of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing clashes," the individual stated.
Another resident, 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 last fourteen days.
World Concerns and Requests
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The spiritual head on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.
The ambassador further encouraged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.
