🔗 Share this article

Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.

The key central region connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary group.

Massive Evacuation Statistics

An calculated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering in excess of 652,000 refugees.

Escalated Military Presence

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

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently distributed video statement.

Regional Citizens Detail Safety Fears

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown considerably since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing clashes," the individual explained.

Another civilian, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, 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 Requests

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

The official cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The church leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.

The ambassador further called on the international community to classify the group as a terrorist organisation.