At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have escaped after fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.
Substantial Exodus Numbers
An approximated 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 individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 refugees.
Increased Military Presence
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.
Regional Residents Report Security Concerns
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing clashes," the individual explained.
Another inhabitant, who requested anonymity 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 past two weeks.
World Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The official alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the opening of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.
The representative further encouraged the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist entity.