At least 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled following takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency

In excess of 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.

The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group.

Substantial Exodus Numbers

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

The civilians, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Troop Concentration

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command base 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.

Local Citizens Detail Safety Fears

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

"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of fighting," the resident commented.

Another inhabitant, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also reported that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

Global Concerns and Calls

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

The diplomat alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The church leader on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

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

The ambassador further called on the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.