Over 60,000 Escape Sudan's City After Capture by RSF Militia, United Nations Says

Refugees escaping violence in the region
Many are trying to get to the settlement of Tawila but face intimidation, extortion and mistreatment from fighters during their journey

As stated by the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 people have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary RSF recently.

There have been multiple executions and crimes against humanity as RSF fighters entered the city after an 18-month blockade characterized by food shortages and intense shelling.

The flow of those fleeing the fighting towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had grown in the recent days, as stated by UNHCR spokesperson.

Survivors were narrating terrible accounts of abuses, featuring sexual violence, and the organization was finding it difficult to locate enough accommodation and food for them.

All children was affected by malnutrition, she added.

Calculations indicate that over 150,000 people are still unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining bastion in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a pattern of the Arab fighters attacking ethnic minorities.

Yet the RSF has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.

The group shared recordings revealing the militiaman's arrest following identification that he was responsible for the execution of multiple unarmed men close to el-Fasher.

Social media platform has verified that it has banned the channel linked to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the profile in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 when a intense power struggle began between its army and the RSF.

This has led to a food crisis and claims of genocide in the western Sudan.

In excess of 150,000 people have lost their lives in the war across the country, and roughly 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian disaster.

The seizure of el-Fasher reinforces the regional separation in the country, with the RSF now in command of the western region and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The opposing sides had been allies - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an foreign-endorsed proposal to advance to civilian rule.

Alyssa Jones
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