At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled following capture of El Fasher to RSF, reports UN agency

In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.

Substantial Displacement Statistics

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

The civilians, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering in excess of 652,000 refugees.

Heightened Forces Deployment

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported 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 provincial capital and a important strategic and command hub that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.

Local Residents Describe Protection Issues

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing confrontations," the local stated.

Another resident, 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.

International Concerns 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 fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.

The ambassador further encouraged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith

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