More than 36,000 Sudanese have escaped after takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency

More than 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.

The important central zone separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Massive Displacement Figures

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

The individuals, most on foot, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 refugees.

Escalated Forces Deployment

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Regional Residents Report Protection Issues

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

"We stopped going to our farms, concerned about clashes," the resident stated.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also reported that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

World Concerns and Appeals

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.

The representative cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

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

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the armed faction.

The diplomat further encouraged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.

Christina Mejia
Christina Mejia

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