Over 60,000 Escape Sudanese City Following Takeover by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports
Per the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 individuals have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF recently.
Reports indicate mass executions and atrocities as paramilitary forces stormed the city after an year-and-a-half blockade featuring food shortages and sustained attacks.
The movement of those escaping the fighting towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, as stated by UNHCR representative.
They were telling horrendous stories of atrocities, including rape, and the organization was finding it difficult to locate sufficient accommodation and supplies for them.
All children was affected by malnutrition, she commented.
It is estimated that more than 150,000 people are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has disputed broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a practice of the Arab militia groups attacking ethnic minorities.
Nevertheless the paramilitary group has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.
The force shared recordings depicting the fighter's arrest subsequent to verification that he was behind the death of numerous civilians near el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has acknowledged that it has removed the channel connected to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had controlled the profile in his identity.
Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 following a intense struggle for power began between its army and the RSF.
The conflict has resulted in a food crisis and claims of genocide in the western Sudan.
In excess of 150,000 people have been killed in the war throughout the country, and approximately 12 million have fled their residences in what the UN has called the biggest global humanitarian disaster.
The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of Sudan's west and much of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been partners - gaining control together in a coup in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported plan to move towards civilian rule.