At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have escaped since fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency
More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.
Massive Evacuation Figures
An estimated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
The people, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a important strategic and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.
Regional Residents Describe Security Concerns
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing fighting," the resident commented.
Another civilian, 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 previous fortnight.
Global Concerns and Requests
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The representative cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.
The religious leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The diplomat further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist group.