Over 60,000 Flee Sudanese City Following Capture by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Reports
Per the United Nations refugee organization, over 60,000 people have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia RSF during the weekend.
Reports indicate multiple executions and atrocities as militia members took control of the city following an extended siege featuring food shortages and sustained attacks.
The exodus of those running from the conflict towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the last several days, according to United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.
They were narrating horrendous stories of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the agency was finding it difficult to secure adequate housing and supplies for them.
All children was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she commented.
Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has disputed extensive accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a practice of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab communities.
Nevertheless the paramilitary group has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.
The organization released video showing the member's detention following identification that he was involved in the execution of multiple civilians near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has verified that it has banned the account linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the profile in his identity.
Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a intense power struggle began between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
This has caused a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.
In excess of 150,000 persons have died in the war across the country, and roughly 12 million have left their homes in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian emergency.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in command of western Sudan and significant areas of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army occupying the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been partners - coming to power together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an internationally backed initiative to move towards democratic governance.