🔗 Share this article

More than 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group.

Substantial Exodus Statistics

An estimated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The people, primarily walking, traveled to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Heightened Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both military groups are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a key logistics and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Area Citizens Report Safety Fears

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the number of RSF vehicles had risen considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing clashes," the resident stated.

Another inhabitant, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

Global Alarms and Calls

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

The diplomat warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

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

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

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