More than 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Capture by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, United Nations States
As stated by the UN refugee agency, more than 60,000 civilians have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been mass executions and crimes against humanity as militia members took control of the city following an year-and-a-half siege characterized by starvation and sustained attacks.
The exodus of those escaping the violence towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the recent days, according to United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.
Refugees were telling shocking stories of violence, including rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to find enough housing and food for them.
Every child was suffering from undernourishment, she noted.
Calculations indicate that in excess of 150,000 individuals are presently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has rejected widespread allegations that the deaths in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a pattern of the Arab paramilitaries focusing on non-Arab populations.
However the RSF has custodied one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.
The organization released video showing the member's apprehension subsequent to verification that he was involved in the killing of multiple civilians close to el-Fasher.
Social media platform has acknowledged that it has banned the channel connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had managed the profile in his name.
Sudan was entered a internal conflict in April 2023 after a brutal struggle for power broke out between its army and the RSF.
It has led to a starvation emergency and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.
Over 150,000 people have lost their lives in the fighting across the country, and roughly 12 million have fled their residences in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of the western region and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.
The opposing sides had been partners - coming to power together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported initiative to transition to civilian leadership.