More than 60,000 Flee Sudan's City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN Reports
Per the UNHCR, more than 60,000 civilians have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF during the weekend.
Accounts suggest multiple executions and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an extended siege featuring famine and intense shelling.
The movement of those running from the conflict towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, as stated by UNHCR spokesperson.
Survivors were telling shocking accounts of violence, such as rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to locate sufficient accommodation and food for them.
Every child was suffering from undernourishment, she added.
Calculations indicate that in excess of 150,000 people are still unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final fortress in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has disputed broad claims that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a trend of the Arab paramilitaries targeting ethnic minorities.
Yet the paramilitary group has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.
The organization distributed recordings depicting the fighter's arrest after confirmation that he was involved in the death of numerous unarmed men close to el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has confirmed that it has suspended the channel linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the account in his identity.
Sudan was plunged into a internal conflict in April 2023 when a brutal struggle for power broke out between its army and the RSF.
The conflict has resulted in a food crisis and claims of genocide in the western Sudan.
Over 150,000 persons have died in the war throughout the country, and about 12 million have left their homes in what the UN has called the biggest global humanitarian crisis.
The capture of el-Fasher reinforces the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of Sudan's west and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the army occupying the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.
The competing factions had been partners - coming to power together in a coup in 2021 - but disagreed over an foreign-endorsed initiative to move towards civilian rule.
