At least 36,000 Sudanese people have escaped since capture of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency

In excess of 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.

Massive Exodus Statistics

An estimated 36,825 people fled five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 displaced people.

Escalated Forces Deployment

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported 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 state capital and a key logistics and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.

Local Residents Detail Safety Fears

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We stopped going to our farms, concerned about confrontations," the local commented.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

International Alarms and Appeals

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat alerted to 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 establishment of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.

The representative further urged the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.