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More than 36,000 civilians have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

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

Substantial Displacement Numbers

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

The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently sheltering in excess of 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.

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

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

Local Inhabitants Describe Protection Issues

A area citizen of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of fighting," the resident explained.

Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

International 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 comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles 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 discuss with the militia organization.

The diplomat further encouraged the global community to designate the group as a terrorist entity.