At least 36,000 Sudanese people have fled following fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency

Over 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur provinces and the capital region has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.

Significant Displacement Statistics

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

The individuals, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering over 652,000 refugees.

Heightened Forces Deployment

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across communities throughout the state.

Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command center 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 message.

Regional Inhabitants Report Security Concerns

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing clashes," the individual stated.

Another inhabitant, 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 previous fortnight.

International Warnings and Calls

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.

The official warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The spiritual head on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.

The diplomat further encouraged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.