At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled since fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has during recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Displacement Statistics
An estimated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, most on foot, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 displaced people.
Heightened Military Presence
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a heavy surge in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.
Area Residents Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, fearing fighting," the resident commented.
Another civilian, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, 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.
International Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The spiritual head on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire and the opening 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 accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the paramilitary group.
The diplomat further encouraged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.
