At least 36,000 Sudanese have escaped since fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration agency.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.
Massive Evacuation Numbers
An approximated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 refugees.
Heightened Troop Concentration
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both forces are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video message.
Local Inhabitants Detail Protection Issues
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of clashes," the resident stated.
Another civilian, who requested anonymity for security reasons, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
Global Alarms and Appeals
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The official alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the creation of aid passageways in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further urged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.
