More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated after capture of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
In excess of 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.
Significant Evacuation Numbers
An estimated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering over 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Escalated Military Presence
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.
Local Citizens Describe Safety Fears
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about fighting," the resident commented.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
International Warnings and Appeals
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "extensive crimes" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The representative alerted to patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The ambassador further encouraged the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.
