In excess of 60,000 Flee Sudan's City In the wake of Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations States
As stated by the UNHCR, over 60,000 people have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been mass executions and atrocities as RSF fighters stormed the city following an year-and-a-half blockade marked by famine and heavy bombardment.
The exodus of those escaping the conflict towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, as stated by UNHCR representative.
Refugees were describing horrendous tales of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the agency was struggling to find enough accommodation and food for them.
Each child was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she added.
Estimates suggest that more than 150,000 residents are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final stronghold in the western region of Darfur.
The RSF has denied widespread allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a trend of the Arab militia groups focusing on non-Arab populations.
Yet the paramilitary group has custodied one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.
The group shared recordings revealing the fighter's apprehension following identification that he was involved in the killing of numerous non-combatants in the vicinity of el-Fasher.
Social media platform has verified that it has banned the channel associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the account in his name.
Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a intense power struggle broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
This has caused a famine and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.
In excess of 150,000 persons have died in the war throughout the country, and approximately 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has termed the biggest global humanitarian disaster.
The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in control of the western region and significant areas of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been allies - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed proposal to transition to civilian leadership.