Over 60,000 Flee Sudan's City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN States

Refugees fleeing violence in the region
Numerous seek to get to the town of Tawila but experience harassment, extortion and mistreatment from militiamen along the way

As stated by the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 civilians have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

Reports indicate multiple executions and atrocities as RSF fighters stormed the city after an extended siege marked by food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The exodus of those fleeing the conflict towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, according to UNHCR representative.

Refugees were telling shocking stories of abuses, featuring rape, and the organization was finding it difficult to secure sufficient accommodation and supplies for them.

Every child was experiencing undernourishment, she commented.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a trend of the Arab fighters attacking ethnic minorities.

Nevertheless the paramilitary group has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.

The organization distributed footage depicting the fighter's arrest subsequent to identification that he was behind the killing of multiple civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has confirmed that it has removed the profile associated with Lulu. It is not clear whether he had managed the profile in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a vicious contest for control began between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

This has led to a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.

In excess of 150,000 persons have died in the conflict throughout the country, and about 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the United Nations has described as the most extensive humanitarian disaster.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of Sudan's west and significant areas of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been allies - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an internationally backed plan to move towards civilian rule.

Holly Brown
Holly Brown

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