Over 60,000 Flee Sudanese City In the wake of Capture by RSF Paramilitary Group, United Nations Reports

Refugees fleeing violence in the region
Many are attempting to get to the town of Tawila but encounter intimidation, demands for money and abuse from militiamen during their journey

According to the UNHCR, over 60,000 individuals have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

There have been mass executions and crimes against humanity as paramilitary forces stormed the city after an 18-month siege featuring food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The exodus of those fleeing the fighting towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

They were telling terrible accounts of violence, including sexual violence, and the organization was having trouble to find adequate housing and supplies for them.

Each child was affected by undernourishment, she added.

Calculations indicate that more than 150,000 people are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has disputed extensive accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a trend of the Arab fighters attacking non-Arab populations.

Yet the RSF has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with on-the-spot executions.

The group shared footage showing the fighter's apprehension following identification that he was responsible for the killing of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Digital platform has acknowledged that it has suspended the channel linked to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the profile in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a intense contest for control erupted between its army and the RSF.

The conflict has caused a starvation emergency and accusations of genocide in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 individuals have been killed in the fighting around the country, and about 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the United Nations has termed the most extensive humanitarian disaster.

The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of the western region and much of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been partners - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed proposal to advance to civilian rule.

Yvonne Harris
Yvonne Harris

Tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing emerging technologies and their impact on daily life.