More than 60,000 Escape Sudan's City Following Takeover by RSF Militia, UN Says
According to the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 individuals have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF recently.
Reports indicate mass executions and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces entered the city after an 18-month siege characterized by famine and intense shelling.
The exodus of those fleeing the violence towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the last several days, according to UNHCR representative.
Refugees were describing shocking tales of abuses, such as rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to secure enough housing and supplies for them.
All children was suffering from undernourishment, she added.
It is estimated that more than 150,000 people are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining bastion in the western part of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has denied broad accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and resemble a trend of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab communities.
Nevertheless the RSF has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.
The group released recordings revealing the militiaman's apprehension following confirmation that he was involved in the death of several non-combatants near el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has verified that it has suspended the account connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his name.
Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 when a brutal struggle for power broke out between its military and the RSF.
This has led to a starvation emergency and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.
More than 150,000 people have been killed in the war across the country, and about 12 million have left their dwellings in what the UN has termed the most extensive humanitarian crisis.
The capture of el-Fasher reinforces the regional separation in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in control of western Sudan and a large portion of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the military occupying the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the coastal region.
The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an internationally backed initiative to move towards civilian rule.
