🔗 Share this article At least 36,000 Sudanese people have fled since capture of El Fasher to RSF, reports UN agency More than 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's immigration body. The important central zone connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group. Significant Evacuation Numbers An approximated 36,825 people fled five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration. The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 displaced people. Heightened Forces Deployment Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army concentration across urban and rural areas throughout the state. Both armed factions are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command hub that joins Darfur to Khartoum. "Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently distributed video message. Regional Residents Report Security Concerns A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher. "We discontinued traveling to our farms, afraid of clashes," the local commented. Another inhabitant, who requested anonymity for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks. Global Alarms and Appeals A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara. The representative alerted to patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups. The spiritual head on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering." Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization. The ambassador further urged the international community to designate the group as a terrorist group.