At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled following takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, states UN agency
In excess of 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone between the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Significant Evacuation Numbers
An calculated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.
Increased Forces Deployment
Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.
Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.
Area Inhabitants Detail Safety Fears
A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.
"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about fighting," the individual stated.
Another resident, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.
Global Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.
The official warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.
The religious leader on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of relief routes 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 carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.
The ambassador further called on the global community to designate the group as a terrorist group.