More than 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated following fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency

Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.

The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Significant Exodus Statistics

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

The civilians, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating in excess of 652,000 refugees.

Escalated Forces Deployment

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.

Area Inhabitants Detail Safety Fears

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

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about confrontations," the resident explained.

Another civilian, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

International Alarms and Calls

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The religious leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.

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

Gwendolyn Martin
Gwendolyn Martin

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