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More than 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's immigration body.

The key central region connecting the country's Darfur regions and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.

Massive Exodus Statistics

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 people, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town west of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 refugees.

Escalated Military Presence

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently circulated video message.

Regional Residents Describe Protection Issues

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, stated that the number of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing fighting," the resident stated.

Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also confirmed that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

World Concerns and Requests

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

The official alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The church leader on Sunday urged an quick cessation of hostilities and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the armed faction.

The representative further encouraged the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.