More than 60,000 Escape Sudanese City Following Capture by RSF Militia, UN Reports

Refugees escaping conflict in the region
Many are trying to reach the settlement of Tawila but face intimidation, extortion and abuse from armed men during their journey

Per the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 people have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF during the weekend.

Reports indicate multiple executions and human rights violations as RSF fighters stormed the city after an extended blockade featuring food shortages and intense shelling.

The flow of those running from the violence towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had grown in the last several days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

Refugees were describing terrible stories of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the agency was struggling to secure adequate housing and supplies for them.

Each child was suffering from malnutrition, she added.

Calculations indicate that more than 150,000 residents are currently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final bastion in the western part of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has denied widespread allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a practice of the Arab paramilitaries attacking non-Arab populations.

However the paramilitary group has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.

The force shared footage showing the member's detention subsequent to verification that he was involved in the execution of multiple civilians close to el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has verified that it has banned the account associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the account in his name.

Sudan was thrown into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a brutal struggle for power began between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has resulted in a famine and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.

More than 150,000 people have been killed in the fighting throughout the country, and about 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the UN has called the biggest global humanitarian emergency.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of the western region and much of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The two warring rivals had been allies - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported proposal to advance to civilian leadership.

Julie Myers
Julie Myers

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