🔗 Share this article

Over 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The key central region between the country's Darfur regions and the capital region has in recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.

Massive Exodus Statistics

An approximated 36,825 people fled five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing over 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Escalated Military Presence

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.

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

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video declaration.

Area Inhabitants Describe Protection Issues

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

"We stopped going to our farms, afraid of fighting," the individual stated.

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

International Concerns and Requests

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

The official cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF combatants 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 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 committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the paramilitary group.

The ambassador further urged the world nations to classify the group as a terrorist entity.