Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, says UN agency

In excess of 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Substantial Evacuation Numbers

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

The individuals, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Increased Military Presence

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both military groups are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial 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 circulated video statement.

Regional Inhabitants Report Security Concerns

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

"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about fighting," the resident stated.

Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

Global Alarms and Calls

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "extensive crimes" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The church leader on Sunday appealed for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not engage with the paramilitary group.

The diplomat further called on the international community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.

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