Over 60,000 Flee Sudan's City In the wake of Capture by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN States
As stated by the UNHCR, in excess of 60,000 people have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces recently.
There have been multiple executions and crimes against humanity as militia members stormed the city following an extended blockade featuring food shortages and heavy bombardment.
The exodus of those escaping the conflict towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, as stated by United Nations refugee agency representative.
Survivors were telling terrible stories of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was having trouble to find adequate shelter and food for them.
Every child was suffering from malnutrition, she noted.
It is estimated that over 150,000 people are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's final bastion in the western part of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has disputed broad accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and mirror a practice of the Arab militia groups focusing on non-Arab populations.
However the paramilitary group has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.
The group distributed recordings revealing the member's apprehension after identification that he was involved in the killing of several unarmed men close to el-Fasher.
Social media platform has acknowledged that it has removed the channel linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the profile in his name.
Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a brutal power struggle broke out between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has caused a food crisis and claims of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.
Over 150,000 individuals have died in the conflict throughout the country, and about 12 million have fled their residences in what the UN has described as the biggest global humanitarian crisis.
The seizure of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of Sudan's west and much of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the military controlling the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.
The two warring rivals had been allies - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed plan to move towards civilian rule.