Over 36,000 Sudanese have escaped since takeover of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency

More than 36,000 civilians have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.

Substantial Evacuation Numbers

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

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

Increased Military Presence

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a heavy surge in both RSF and army concentration across communities throughout the state.

Both armed factions are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a key logistics and command hub that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Local Residents Describe Protection Issues

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

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

Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

World Warnings and Calls

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The representative cautioned about patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The church leader on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not engage with the paramilitary group.

The ambassador further called on the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist group.

Karen Robertson
Karen Robertson

Elias is a gaming enthusiast and analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot machine strategies and industry trends.