More than 60,000 Escape Sudan's City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN Says
According to the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 individuals have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces recently.
Reports indicate summary killings and human rights violations as paramilitary forces entered the city after an 18-month encirclement characterized by food shortages and heavy bombardment.
The exodus of those fleeing the violence towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.
Refugees were telling shocking tales of abuses, featuring sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was having trouble to find adequate accommodation and nourishment for them.
Every child was experiencing undernourishment, she added.
It is estimated that over 150,000 individuals are currently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining bastion in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and follow a practice of the Arab militia groups attacking ethnic minorities.
However the RSF has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.
The organization released recordings revealing the militiaman's detention subsequent to identification that he was involved in the execution of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has verified that it has suspended the profile associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the profile in his identity.
Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense power struggle broke out between its military and the RSF.
This has resulted in a starvation emergency and accusations of mass killing in the western Darfur region.
More than 150,000 individuals have been killed in the conflict around the country, and about 12 million have left their homes in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of the western region and a large portion of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been allies - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but fell out over an globally supported plan to move towards democratic governance.