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

Over 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.

Massive Displacement Numbers

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

The people, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Military Presence

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across communities throughout the state.

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

"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.

Regional Residents Describe Security Concerns

A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had grown substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about fighting," the individual stated.

Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

International Warnings and Calls

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The religious leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the armed faction.

The representative further urged the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist group.