🔗 Share this article Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have fled after capture of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency More than 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body. The important central zone between the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has over recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group. Massive Displacement Numbers An approximated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration. The civilians, primarily walking, traveled to Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating more than 652,000 displaced people. Increased Forces Deployment Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration 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 connects Darfur to Khartoum. "Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration. Regional Residents Describe Safety Fears A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher. "We ceased visiting our farms, fearing fighting," the resident stated. Another inhabitant, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks. World Concerns and Appeals A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara. The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF militants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities. The spiritual head on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering." Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization. The ambassador further called on the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.