(MENAFN) More than 7,000 residents have evacuated the city of El-Fasher in western Sudan, raising the total number of displaced individuals to nearly 89,000 since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the city last month, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Sunday.

According to the UN agency, its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) indicated that 7,075 additional people were forced to leave El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, between Nov. 5 and 8 due to escalating insecurity in the region.

The displaced population has sought refuge in various neighboring areas, including Tawila, Mellit, and Saraf Omra in North Darfur, the IOM noted.

Since the RSF's takeover of El-Fasher on Oct. 26, approximately 88,892 people have reportedly fled the city, the agency added.

The IOM also highlighted that extreme insecurity along the roads could obstruct civilian movements, warning that the situation remains “tense and volatile.”

On Oct. 26, the RSF seized control of El-Fasher and perpetrated “ethnic-based massacres,” according to both local and international organizations, with observers cautioning that the assault could deepen the nation’s geographical fragmentation.

Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have been engaged in an ongoing war, which multiple regional and international mediation attempts have failed to resolve.

The conflict has resulted in thousands of fatalities and forced millions of people to flee their homes.

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