Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City In the wake of Takeover by RSF Militia, United Nations States

Refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan
Many are attempting to reach the settlement of Tawila but face intimidation, extortion and mistreatment from fighters during their journey

According to the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 civilians have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces recently.

There have been multiple executions and atrocities as RSF fighters entered the city after an extended blockade characterized by starvation and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those running from the fighting towards the town of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the recent days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

Survivors were describing horrendous accounts of abuses, including sexual violence, and the agency was finding it difficult to secure sufficient shelter and nourishment for them.

All children was suffering from undernourishment, she added.

It is estimated that in excess of 150,000 individuals are presently stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining fortress in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has denied broad accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and follow a trend of the Arab fighters attacking non-Arab communities.

However the RSF has custodied one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions.

The group released video revealing the member's apprehension after verification that he was behind the death of multiple unarmed men in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has acknowledged that it has banned the account connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the account in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 after a brutal contest for control erupted between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has caused a starvation emergency and allegations of mass killing in the western Darfur region.

More than 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the fighting across the country, and about 12 million have left their dwellings in what the United Nations has called the biggest global humanitarian crisis.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of the western region and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The opposing sides had been collaborators - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an globally supported proposal to advance to civilian rule.

Eddie Reed
Eddie Reed

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