In excess of 60,000 Flee Sudan's City Following Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN States

Refugees fleeing conflict in the region
Many are attempting to get to the settlement of Tawila but face intimidation, extortion and mistreatment from fighters along the way

Per the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 individuals have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.

There have been summary killings and atrocities as RSF fighters stormed the city after an extended blockade characterized by starvation and heavy bombardment.

The movement of those fleeing the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the last several days, per United Nations refugee agency representative.

Survivors were telling terrible tales of atrocities, featuring rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to secure enough housing and food for them.

Each child was experiencing nutritional deficiencies, she noted.

Calculations indicate that over 150,000 people are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final fortress in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has disputed extensive allegations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a practice of the Arab fighters focusing on non-Arab populations.

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

The force distributed footage depicting the member's apprehension subsequent to confirmation that he was responsible for the killing of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has removed the channel linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the account in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense struggle for power began between its military and the RSF.

The conflict has caused a starvation emergency and claims of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have died in the conflict across the country, and approximately 12 million have abandoned their residences in what the United Nations has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in control of the western region and a large portion of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an internationally backed initiative to advance to civilian rule.

Antonio Payne
Antonio Payne

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