In excess of 60,000 Escape Sudanese City After Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Militia, United Nations Says
As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 individuals have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been summary killings and atrocities as militia members took control of the city following an year-and-a-half siege featuring food shortages and heavy bombardment.
The movement of those running from the fighting towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were narrating terrible tales of abuses, including rape, and the organization was struggling to secure sufficient accommodation and food for them.
Each child was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she commented.
It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 individuals are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final bastion in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive claims that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a pattern of the Arab militia groups targeting ethnic minorities.
However the RSF has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.
The organization shared video revealing the member's apprehension after identification that he was responsible for the execution of multiple non-combatants near el-Fasher.
Social media platform has acknowledged that it has removed the account connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his name.
Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense contest for control broke out between its army and the RSF.
It has caused a starvation emergency and allegations of mass killing in the Darfur area.
In excess of 150,000 people have died in the fighting throughout the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the United Nations has called the most extensive humanitarian disaster.
The seizure of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in control of western Sudan and a large portion of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The two warring rivals had been collaborators - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but fell out over an foreign-endorsed plan to move towards civilian rule.