At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled after takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
Over 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Exodus Numbers
An approximated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 refugees.
Heightened Forces Deployment
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command hub that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.
Local Citizens Detail Safety Fears
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had risen considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of confrontations," the resident commented.
Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
World Concerns and Calls
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The religious leader on Sunday urged an prompt truce and the creation of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The diplomat further encouraged the international community to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.
