At least 36,000 Sudanese have escaped since fall of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency
More than 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.
The important central zone separating the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.
Massive Evacuation Figures
An approximated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The people, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering in excess of 652,000 refugees.
Increased Forces Deployment
Local inhabitants 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 contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a critical supply and command center that links Darfur to Khartoum.
"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video declaration.
Regional Residents Detail Safety Fears
A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.
"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about clashes," the resident stated.
Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed 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.
World Alarms and Calls
A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" 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 urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."
Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.
The ambassador further called on the global community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.
