Over 60,000 Flee Sudanese City Following Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN Says

Refugees escaping violence in the region
Many seek to reach the town of Tawila but experience harassment, demands for money and abuse from armed men during their journey

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 people have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

There have been summary killings and human rights violations as paramilitary forces entered the city following an 18-month encirclement marked by famine and sustained attacks.

The exodus of those fleeing the fighting towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, according to United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

Refugees were describing horrendous stories of violence, featuring sexual violence, and the organization was finding it difficult to find adequate shelter and food for them.

Every child was experiencing undernourishment, she added.

Estimates suggest that in excess of 150,000 residents are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has denied extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a practice of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab communities.

However the paramilitary group has detained one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of summary executions.

The group shared recordings revealing the militiaman's detention after identification that he was responsible for the execution of multiple non-combatants in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has suspended the account associated with Lulu. It is not clear whether he had operated the profile in his name.

Sudan was entered a domestic fighting in April 2023 following a vicious struggle for power broke out between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

It has resulted in a starvation emergency and claims of mass killing in the Darfur area.

Over 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the UN has called the biggest global humanitarian emergency.

The capture of el-Fasher reinforces the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of western Sudan and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been partners - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed initiative to transition to civilian rule.

Christopher Mejia
Christopher Mejia

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