According to the UN migration agency, more than 36,000 people have fled Sudan’s North Kordofan region since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher last week.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the displacement began on October 26, when the RSF captured El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. By the end of October, about 36,825 people had left nearby towns and villages.
Most of those fleeing are moving on foot toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is already hosting more than 650,000 displaced people. Aid agencies warn the sudden arrivals are worsening already poor humanitarian conditions.
El Fasher’s fall marks a major shift in Sudan’s two-year conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The city’s capture gives the RSF control of a key route linking Darfur to Khartoum.
Reports from North Kordofan indicate both the army and RSF have increased their presence in several towns, including El Obeid, a vital logistics hub in central Sudan. Clashes in the surrounding areas have forced more civilians to flee their homes.
The UN has raised concern about alleged atrocities and ethnic violence in newly captured areas. It has also called for safe humanitarian access to civilians caught in the fighting.
Meanwhile, religious and international leaders have renewed appeals for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians, as the war continues to displace thousands every week.
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