🔗 Share this article More than 36,000 Sudanese people have fled after capture of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency Over 36,000 people have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur since Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration agency. The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese military forces and the militia group. Significant Displacement Figures An estimated 36,825 people escaped five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration. The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 refugees. Heightened Forces Deployment Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday reported a heavy surge in both RSF and army presence across communities throughout the state. Both forces are contesting 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 statement. Local Citizens Describe Security Concerns A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher. "We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of confrontations," the resident explained. Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days. Global Alarms and Requests A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara. The official alerted to patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities. The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles 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 militia organization. The representative further called on the world nations to designate the group as a terrorist organisation.