Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City Following Capture by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN States
Per the United Nations refugee organization, over 60,000 individuals have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
Reports indicate summary killings and atrocities as militia members entered the city after an 18-month blockade characterized by famine and sustained attacks.
The movement of those fleeing the violence towards the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were describing shocking stories of abuses, such as rape, and the humanitarian group was having trouble to find enough housing and supplies for them.
Each child was experiencing nutritional deficiencies, she noted.
Calculations indicate that over 150,000 people are presently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The RSF has rejected widespread claims that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a practice of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab communities.
However the paramilitary group has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.
The force shared video depicting the fighter's apprehension subsequent to identification that he was responsible for the execution of several non-combatants in the vicinity of el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has confirmed that it has suspended the channel linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his identity.
Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 following a intense struggle for power erupted between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has caused a food crisis and claims of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.
In excess of 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the war throughout the country, and roughly 12 million have fled their residences in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of the western region and a large portion of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military occupying the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been allies - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed proposal to move towards democratic governance.
