More than 60,000 Flee Sudanese City In the wake of Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Militia, United Nations Reports
Per the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 people have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces over the weekend.
Reports indicate mass executions and atrocities as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an 18-month encirclement featuring food shortages and sustained attacks.
The flow of those running from the conflict towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, according to UNHCR representative.
Survivors were narrating terrible tales of abuses, such as sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was struggling to locate adequate shelter and food for them.
Each child was suffering from undernourishment, she commented.
It is estimated that over 150,000 residents are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has rejected widespread allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a practice of the Arab paramilitaries focusing on non-Arab communities.
However the paramilitary group has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.
The organization released video showing the fighter's detention following confirmation that he was involved in the execution of multiple unarmed men in the vicinity of el-Fasher.
Digital platform has verified that it has removed the account connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his name.
Sudan was thrown into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense struggle for power broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
This has caused a famine and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.
More than 150,000 people have died in the fighting throughout the country, and approximately 12 million have left their residences in what the United Nations has termed the most extensive humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of the western region and much of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed plan to advance to civilian rule.