At least 36,000 Sudanese people have escaped since capture of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.
The key central region connecting the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Significant Evacuation Figures
An approximated 36,825 people evacuated from five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Increased Forces Deployment
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state.
Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.
Local Citizens Describe Security Concerns
A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of fighting," the local explained.
Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
Global Alarms and Requests
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The church leader on Sunday urged an prompt truce and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.
The representative further urged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.