In excess of 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Says
As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 civilians have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia RSF over the weekend.
There have been summary killings and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces entered the city following an 18-month blockade characterized by starvation and intense shelling.
The flow of those fleeing the fighting towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, per United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were narrating shocking stories of abuses, including rape, and the agency was having trouble to locate sufficient housing and supplies for them.
Every child was affected by malnutrition, she commented.
It is estimated that over 150,000 residents are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and follow a pattern of the Arab fighters targeting ethnic minorities.
Yet the RSF has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions.
The force distributed footage depicting the militiaman's arrest subsequent to confirmation that he was responsible for the death of numerous non-combatants close to el-Fasher.
Digital platform has confirmed that it has banned the channel connected to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had operated the account in his name.
Sudan was entered a internal conflict in April 2023 following a intense contest for control broke out between its military and the RSF.
It has caused a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.
More than 150,000 persons have lost their lives in the fighting around the country, and roughly 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian emergency.
The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of western Sudan and significant areas of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.
The competing factions had been partners - coming to power together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed proposal to advance to civilian leadership.
