At least 36,000 Sudanese have evacuated following fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency

In excess of 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.

Massive Evacuation Numbers

An calculated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 refugees.

Increased Forces Deployment

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge 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 provincial capital and a critical supply and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.

Regional Residents Describe Protection Issues

A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, afraid of clashes," the resident explained.

Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality 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 previous fortnight.

World Alarms and Requests

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

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

The ambassador further called on the international community to designate the group as a terrorist group.

Jennifer Cole
Jennifer Cole

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