More than 36,000 Sudanese have escaped after capture of El Fasher to RSF, reports UN agency
More than 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.
The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Displacement Statistics
An calculated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 refugees.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.
Local Residents Report Protection Issues
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about clashes," the local commented.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also reported that "there has been a big increase 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 "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat alerted to patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the creation of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The diplomat further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.
