Over 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated after fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.
The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Significant Exodus Numbers
An estimated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering over 652,000 refugees.
Increased Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.
Regional Residents Describe Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing clashes," the resident explained.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, also confirmed that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.
World Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the creation of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the paramilitary group.
The representative further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist group.
