Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled after takeover of El Fasher to RSF, states UN agency

In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group.

Significant Evacuation 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 individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 refugees.

Increased Troop Concentration

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both armed factions are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Regional Citizens Describe Protection Issues

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

"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of fighting," the individual commented.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

International Warnings and Requests

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

The diplomat cautioned about patterns similar to those 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 appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of relief routes 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 discuss with the paramilitary group.

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