Over 36,000 Sudanese people have evacuated following fall of El Fasher to RSF, reports UN agency

Over 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan territory eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, as stated by the UN's immigration body.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the militia group.

Substantial Evacuation Statistics

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

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

Heightened Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a substantial rise 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 connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.

Regional Citizens Report Protection Issues

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

"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of fighting," the individual commented.

Another resident, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

International Concerns and Requests

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

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

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

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

The ambassador further urged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist entity.