Over 60,000 Run from Sudanese City After Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN Reports
As stated by the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 individuals have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been summary killings and human rights violations as RSF fighters took control of the city following an extended encirclement characterized by famine and heavy bombardment.
The flow of those running from the fighting towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, per United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.
Refugees were telling horrendous accounts of abuses, including sexual violence, and the organization was finding it difficult to find enough shelter and supplies for them.
Each child was suffering from nutritional deficiencies, she added.
Estimates suggest that over 150,000 residents are presently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has denied widespread claims that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a practice of the Arab paramilitaries focusing on ethnic minorities.
Nevertheless the paramilitary group has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with summary executions.
The group released recordings showing the fighter's arrest after identification that he was involved in the killing of multiple non-combatants near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has confirmed that it has removed the profile connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his identity.
Sudan was entered a internal conflict in April 2023 following a vicious power struggle broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has led to a famine and accusations of mass killing in the western Darfur region.
More than 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the war throughout the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the UN has termed the most extensive humanitarian disaster.
The capture of el-Fasher solidifies the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of the western region and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the southern area, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.
The opposing sides had been collaborators - coming to power together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed initiative to move towards civilian leadership.