More than 60,000 Escape Sudanese City After Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports
As stated by the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 people have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia RSF over the weekend.
Accounts suggest mass executions and human rights violations as RSF fighters stormed the city after an year-and-a-half encirclement characterized by famine and intense shelling.
The movement of those running from the conflict towards the town of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, according to UNHCR spokesperson.
They were telling terrible accounts of atrocities, such as rape, and the agency was struggling to secure enough accommodation and supplies for them.
Each child was affected by undernourishment, she added.
Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has denied broad claims that the killings in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a trend of the Arab paramilitaries focusing on non-Arab populations.
Nevertheless the RSF has custodied one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions.
The force released recordings showing the militiaman's arrest after confirmation that he was involved in the execution of several non-combatants close to el-Fasher.
Digital platform has confirmed that it has banned the channel linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his name.
Sudan was entered a internal conflict in April 2023 following a vicious contest for control began between its military and the RSF.
This has caused a food crisis and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.
Over 150,000 people have been killed in the fighting across the country, and about 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the biggest global humanitarian emergency.
The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of western Sudan and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The opposing sides had been allies - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an globally supported plan to advance to democratic governance.