Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City Following Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports

Refugees escaping conflict in Sudan
Many are trying to reach the settlement of Tawila but encounter intimidation, extortion and abuse from fighters along the way

According to the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 people have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

Reports indicate summary killings and crimes against humanity as militia members entered the city after an 18-month encirclement characterized by famine and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those escaping the violence towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

They were telling shocking stories of violence, featuring sexual violence, and the organization was having trouble to locate sufficient shelter and nourishment for them.

Every child was suffering from undernourishment, she noted.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining stronghold in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive claims that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and follow a pattern of the Arab militia groups focusing on non-Arab populations.

Yet the RSF has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in extrajudicial killings.

The force distributed video showing the militiaman's apprehension after identification that he was involved in the death of numerous non-combatants close to el-Fasher.

Social media platform has confirmed that it has banned the account associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the profile in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 when a vicious power struggle erupted between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

This has caused a famine and accusations of genocide in the western Darfur region.

Over 150,000 individuals have died in the fighting around the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the United Nations has described as the world's largest humanitarian emergency.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of western Sudan and much of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the Red Sea.

The competing factions had been allies - gaining control together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed proposal to advance to civilian leadership.

Martha Wright
Martha Wright

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