More than 60,000 Run from Sudanese City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN Reports
Per the UNHCR, in excess of 60,000 civilians have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
Accounts suggest mass executions and human rights violations as militia members took control of the city after an 18-month siege characterized by famine and sustained attacks.
The exodus of those running from the fighting towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the past few days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency representative.
They were describing shocking accounts of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the organization was finding it difficult to secure enough shelter and nourishment for them.
Each child was experiencing malnutrition, she added.
It is estimated that more than 150,000 individuals are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western part of Darfur.
The RSF has rejected extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a trend of the Arab fighters attacking non-Arab populations.
Nevertheless the RSF has custodied one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.
The organization shared video depicting the militiaman's apprehension following verification that he was behind the execution of several civilians near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has confirmed that it has suspended the profile linked to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the profile in his name.
Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 following a vicious contest for control broke out between its military and the RSF.
It has resulted in a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.
Over 150,000 individuals have been killed in the conflict across the country, and roughly 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has described as the biggest global humanitarian disaster.
The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in command of Sudan's west and a large portion of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army occupying the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the Red Sea.
The opposing sides had been allies - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an globally supported plan to move towards democratic governance.
