🔗 Share this article More than 36,000 Sudanese have escaped after fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, says UN agency More than 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration organization. The important central zone separating the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group. Significant Displacement Numbers An calculated 36,825 people fled five areas 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 more than 652,000 displaced people. Escalated Forces Deployment Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state. Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum. "Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently circulated video message. Regional Citizens Report Protection Issues A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had grown considerably since the group's capture of El Fasher. "We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about confrontations," the local explained. Another inhabitant, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks. Global Concerns and Requests A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara. The official warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities. The spiritual head on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and impediments 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 engage with the armed faction. The ambassador further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.