More than 36,000 Sudanese people have fled since takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.
Massive Displacement Figures
An approximated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Escalated Troop Concentration
Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently shared video message.
Area Residents Report Security Concerns
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of clashes," the individual commented.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also confirmed that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.
World Concerns and Appeals
A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.
The diplomat cautioned about 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 spiritual head on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire and the creation of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative 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 ambassador further called on the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.