At least 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated after takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, states UN agency
Over 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.
Massive Exodus Numbers
An approximated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 refugees.
Heightened Forces Deployment
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.
Regional Citizens Describe Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had grown considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing clashes," the local stated.
Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.
World Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The church leader on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The diplomat further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.