🔗 Share this article

Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.

The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the extended civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.

Significant Exodus Statistics

An calculated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan state 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 displaced people.

Heightened Military Presence

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday described a heavy surge in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video message.

Local Inhabitants Report Protection Issues

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

"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of confrontations," the local stated.

Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

World Warnings and Calls

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The church leader on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating 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 stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.

The diplomat further encouraged the international community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.