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More than 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese military forces and the paramilitary forces.

Massive Exodus Numbers

An approximated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The people, mainly traveling by foot, traveled to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing in excess of 652,000 displaced people.

Escalated Military Presence

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both military groups are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.

Regional Residents Report Protection Issues

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's seizure of El Fasher.

"We stopped going to our farms, concerned about fighting," the local commented.

Another resident, who sought confidentiality for security reasons, also reported that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

Global Concerns and Appeals

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

The diplomat warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The church leader on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not engage with the militia organization.

The representative further encouraged the world nations to classify the group as a terrorist group.