In excess of 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN Reports
As stated by the UNHCR, more than 60,000 individuals have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF recently.
Reports indicate multiple executions and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces took control of the city following an 18-month encirclement characterized by food shortages 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 past few days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were telling horrendous accounts of atrocities, such as rape, and the agency was struggling to find adequate housing and nourishment for them.
Each child was experiencing malnutrition, she noted.
It is estimated that over 150,000 individuals are presently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The RSF has rejected widespread allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a pattern of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab populations.
Nevertheless the RSF has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in extrajudicial killings.
The group released video showing the militiaman's apprehension subsequent to identification that he was behind the execution of numerous civilians near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has verified that it has suspended the profile associated with Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the account in his name.
Sudan was entered a civil war in April 2023 when a intense contest for control began between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.
This has caused a starvation emergency and accusations of mass killing in the western Sudan.
In excess of 150,000 individuals have died in the war around the country, and roughly 12 million have left their dwellings in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of western Sudan and a large portion of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military holding the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported plan to transition to civilian leadership.
