More than 60,000 Run from Sudanese City Following Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN Says
As stated by the UNHCR, more than 60,000 individuals have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been mass executions and atrocities as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an year-and-a-half encirclement featuring starvation and heavy bombardment.
The flow of those running from the violence towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, according to United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.
They were telling horrendous tales of abuses, featuring sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was struggling to secure enough housing and supplies for them.
All children was suffering from malnutrition, she commented.
Calculations indicate that in excess of 150,000 people are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last fortress in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has disputed broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a pattern of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab communities.
Yet the RSF has custodied one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in extrajudicial killings.
The organization shared recordings depicting the militiaman's arrest following confirmation that he was behind the execution of numerous civilians near el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has verified that it has banned the account associated with Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his name.
Sudan was entered a internal conflict in April 2023 following a intense contest for control began between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has resulted in a food crisis and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.
More than 150,000 persons have lost their lives in the conflict throughout the country, and about 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in command of the western region and much of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been partners - coming to power together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported initiative to advance to democratic governance.