More than 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency

Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Significant Evacuation Statistics

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

The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Escalated Military Presence

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages 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 connects Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Area Citizens Describe Safety Fears

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

"We stopped going to our farms, fearing fighting," the resident commented.

Another inhabitant, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

World Alarms and Appeals

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

The diplomat cautioned about patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

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

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.

The ambassador further urged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist group.

Ricardo Smith
Ricardo Smith

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