Over 60,000 Escape Sudanese City Following Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Reports
As stated by the UNHCR, more than 60,000 individuals have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized 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 blockade marked by starvation and heavy bombardment.
The movement of those fleeing the conflict towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, per UNHCR representative.
Survivors were describing shocking tales of atrocities, featuring sexual violence, and the organization was finding it difficult to secure adequate accommodation and supplies for them.
Each child was affected by malnutrition, she added.
It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 individuals are currently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has denied broad claims that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a trend of the Arab militia groups targeting ethnic minorities.
Nevertheless the paramilitary group has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.
The group distributed video revealing the militiaman's detention subsequent to confirmation that he was responsible for the execution of numerous unarmed men near el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has verified that it has suspended the channel linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his identity.
Sudan was thrown into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense contest for control erupted between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has resulted in a starvation emergency and claims of genocide in the western Sudan.
Over 150,000 persons have been killed in the fighting across the country, and approximately 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of the western region and much of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the army occupying the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been allies - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but fell out over an internationally backed initiative to advance to civilian leadership.
