Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Capture by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports
According to the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 civilians have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.
There have been mass executions and atrocities as RSF fighters stormed the city following an year-and-a-half siege featuring famine and sustained attacks.
The movement of those escaping the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the recent days, per United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were describing horrendous tales of violence, such as rape, and the humanitarian group was having trouble to locate sufficient accommodation and nourishment for them.
Each child was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she added.
Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 people are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's final stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has rejected widespread accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a trend of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab populations.
Yet the RSF has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with on-the-spot executions.
The force distributed recordings showing the militiaman's apprehension after verification that he was behind the execution of multiple non-combatants close to el-Fasher.
Digital platform has confirmed that it has suspended the account linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had managed the profile in his name.
Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 after a intense struggle for power began between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.
It has resulted in a starvation emergency and accusations of genocide in the Darfur area.
More than 150,000 persons have been killed in the fighting across the country, and roughly 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian crisis.
The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in control of Sudan's west and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military occupying the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been partners - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an globally supported proposal to move towards democratic governance.