More than 60,000 Flee Sudanese City After Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN Says

As stated by the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 civilians have fled the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF during the weekend.

Accounts suggest multiple executions and crimes against humanity as militia members entered the city following an extended siege marked by famine and heavy bombardment.

The exodus of those running from the fighting towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

Survivors were narrating shocking accounts of abuses, such as sexual violence, and the organization was struggling to secure adequate housing and supplies for them.

Each child was affected by undernourishment, she commented.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's final stronghold in the western part of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has denied broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a pattern of the Arab paramilitaries targeting non-Arab communities.

Yet the RSF has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.

The group released video depicting the member's detention subsequent to verification that he was behind the death of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has acknowledged that it has banned the account associated with Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the account in his name.

Sudan was thrown into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a brutal struggle for power erupted between its military and the RSF.

This has resulted in a food crisis and accusations of genocide in the Darfur area.

More than 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the fighting around the country, and approximately 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the UN has called the world's largest humanitarian disaster.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in command of western Sudan and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military occupying the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an globally supported initiative to move towards democratic governance.