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

More than 36,000 civilians have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the capital 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.

Significant Displacement Statistics

An calculated 36,825 people escaped five districts 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 accommodating over 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Escalated Military Presence

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Area Citizens Report Security Concerns

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

"We stopped going to our farms, fearing confrontations," the individual explained.

Another civilian, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

World Alarms and Appeals

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

The representative cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The spiritual head on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

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

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

Darryl Vang
Darryl Vang

A passionate gamer and tech writer with over a decade of experience covering the gaming industry and its trends.