Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated after capture of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency

In excess of 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The important central zone separating the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the militia group.

Massive Evacuation Statistics

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

The civilians, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 displaced people.

Escalated Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a heavy surge in both RSF and army concentration across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Regional Inhabitants Describe Safety Fears

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about confrontations," the individual explained.

Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

International Warnings and Requests

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The representative alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

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

The diplomat further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.

James Newton
James Newton

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