At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled since capture of El Fasher to RSF, reports UN agency
More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.
Substantial Displacement Statistics
An estimated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 displaced people.
Escalated Forces Deployment
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army concentration across communities throughout the state.
Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.
Regional Residents Describe Security Concerns
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's capture of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of fighting," the individual commented.
Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
World Warnings and Requests
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.
The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating 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 discuss with the militia organization.
The representative further encouraged the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist entity.
